Why Preserving Your Natural Teeth Can Be Better Than Extraction
When you’ve got a painful tooth, having it taken out can feel like the easiest option.
Get rid of the tooth. Get rid of the problem. Right?
Sometimes extraction absolutely is the right thing to do. But not always.
Depending on what’s causing the problem, there may be ways to treat the tooth without removing it.
Dentists will usually look at whether a natural tooth can be treated and restored first. Fillings, crowns and root canal treatment can all help save teeth that might otherwise be lost.
If you visit a Purley dentist, they can assess the tooth properly. They’ll also be able to talk you through your options and whether saving it might be possible.
Why is it worth saving your natural teeth?
Obviously, we need our teeth to eat. But they do quite a bit more than that.
They work together to support our bite. They also help keep the surrounding teeth where they should be.
When a tooth is removed, the teeth around the gap can sometimes start to move over time. The bone around the missing tooth can change too.
Keeping your natural teeth healthy can also help if you need other dental treatment later on.
For example, if you’re considering Invisalign in Purley, the health and position of your existing teeth will be assessed first.
Of course, saving a tooth isn’t always possible. But it’s worth finding out what your options are before making a decision.
When can a tooth be saved instead of removed?
A tooth that looks pretty bad isn’t necessarily beyond saving.
Decay, cracks, damage inside the tooth and dental infections can sometimes be treated without removing the tooth.
It really depends on what’s going on.
How much healthy tooth is left? Are the roots healthy? Is there an infection? These are all things your dentist will need to look at.
It’s also why getting tooth pain checked early is a good idea.
Easier said than done, I know. Especially if you’re someone who puts off going to the dentist!
But the sooner you know what’s going on, the more options you may have.
If an infection has reached the pulp inside the tooth, root canal treatment may sometimes be used to remove the infected tissue while keeping the tooth itself.
Again, it depends on the individual tooth.
Natural teeth vs extraction: what are your options?
Choosing whether to save or remove a tooth isn’t just about getting rid of the pain.
You also need to think about what happens afterwards.
If your natural tooth can be treated and restored, keeping it means you won’t have a gap to deal with later.
If it does need to come out, there are ways to replace it. These include bridges, dentures and dental implants.
They all have their own pros and cons. And, of course, there’s the extra treatment and cost to think about too.
Sometimes removing the tooth genuinely is the best option. It might be too badly damaged or fractured to repair, for example.
The important thing is understanding why your dentist is recommending it. And what your other options are.
Treatments that may help save a natural tooth
There are quite a few ways dentists can repair damaged teeth.
If decay is caught early, a filling might be enough.
If there’s more damage, you might need an inlay, onlay or crown to protect what’s left of the tooth.
Then there’s root canal treatment.
This may be needed if the pulp inside the tooth becomes inflamed or infected. The affected tissue is removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned, filled and sealed.
The tooth may then need a crown or another restoration afterwards.
More complicated cases can sometimes be referred to an endodontist. This is a dentist with additional specialist training in treating problems inside the tooth.
There’s no one treatment that works for everyone. It really does depend on the tooth.
Root canal vs extraction: which is better?
Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer.
If a tooth can be successfully restored, root canal treatment may allow you to treat the infection without losing the tooth.
But sometimes there’s just too much damage. In that case, extraction may be the better option.
It’s also worth thinking about what happens after a tooth is removed.
Will the gap need replacing? Would you need a bridge, denture or dental implant?
That can mean more appointments. More treatment. And potentially more expense.
So it’s worth understanding the bigger picture rather than just choosing what seems like the quickest fix.
When might you need root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment may be recommended if the pulp inside a tooth becomes inflamed or infected.
This can happen because of deep decay, a crack or damage to the tooth.
Symptoms can include toothache that won’t go away, sensitivity to hot or cold, pain when biting or swelling around the tooth.
That doesn’t mean every toothache needs a root canal, though.
There are lots of reasons a tooth might hurt. So it’s important to get it checked properly rather than trying to diagnose it yourself.
If you have significant swelling, severe pain or you’re feeling generally unwell alongside a dental problem, seek dental or medical advice promptly.
How can you reduce the risk of losing a tooth?
Prevention isn’t very exciting. But it does matter.
Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Clean between your teeth regularly. And try not to have sugary food and drinks too often.
Regular dental check-ups help too.
They give your dentist a chance to spot smaller problems before they become bigger ones.
And don’t ignore toothache that’s been hanging around for ages.
It’s very tempting to tell yourself it’ll probably disappear. Especially if you’re not exactly thrilled about sitting in the dentist’s chair.
But getting it looked at earlier could mean it’s easier to treat.
Practices such as Foxley Lane Dental offer preventative and restorative dental care. They can also explain the different options available if a tooth becomes damaged or painful.
What are the benefits of keeping your natural teeth?
If a tooth is healthy enough to be treated and restored, keeping it can help maintain your normal bite and chewing function.
It can also help keep the surrounding teeth in position.
And you may avoid needing treatment to replace a missing tooth later.
But needing an extraction isn’t a bad outcome.
Sometimes a tooth just can’t reasonably be saved. Taking it out might genuinely be the right thing to do.
It’s really about finding out whether the tooth can be saved first. And if it can’t, knowing what happens next.
Don’t put off getting tooth pain checked
Got tooth pain that isn’t going away? Swelling? Sensitivity that’s been hanging around?
It’s worth making that dental appointment.
I know it’s tempting to wait and see if it sorts itself out. We’ve probably all done that at some point.
But depending on the problem, getting it checked earlier could give you more treatment options.
A filling, crown or root canal treatment might make it possible to keep the tooth. In other cases, extraction might still be the best choice.
Your dentist can look at what’s actually going on and explain the options. Then you can decide what’s right for you.
This article is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for professional dental or medical advice. If you have concerns about tooth pain, swelling, infection or any other dental symptoms, speak to a dentist or appropriate healthcare professional.
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