Root Canal or Get it Pulled?

Hi im 22 years old %26amp; i Have had a tooth-ache off on for over a year now ! It recently got worse So i went to the dentist! I have had the tooth filled several times ! This recent visit they said the tooth was dieing plus I have bad infection where the filling is on that toothand I need a root canal they explained the procedure and all that ! But both my parents had bad experinces with there root canals and ended getting them pulled out anyhow! Plus I have heard other horror stories as well! My Dental Insurance will only pay half so that leaves me to pay 500.00 not includeing the crowns to be put on later! Its a back tooth so Im really considering just haveing pulled but I really am worried cause im young still and most of my teeth have fillings so its not like I perfect teeth to start with! So just any good advice or suggustions would be great!

Root Canal or Get it Pulled?
Hi Emily,





I would personally consider root canal treatment (RCT). RCT is not guaranteed successful, but surely it is worth a try, because it is better to try and keep all of your teeth in your mouth.





I can see your point, though, as it if proves unsuccessful, then you've wasted a lot of money.





I am 20 years old and regret having teeth extracted, but that might be because I work in a dental practice and teeth interest me now.





If you have a decent amount of teeth in your mouth, then perhaps opt for it to be extracted. Ask your dentist if it will make much of a difference if the tooth is missing.





I must say, quite a few patients I have seen recently have decided on an extraction, rather than RCT. But please do not let this influence your decision.





I am a dental surgery assistant and my advice is given on a personal level and should not be considered to be professional.





Please let me know what you decide.





Keep smiling.
Reply:Hi Emily,





Since you're young, you may want to go ahead and have the root canal treatment done. Make an appointment with an endodontist, who specializes in root canals..





While your parents have concerns, you should be ok after the treatment. Yes, dental work can be expensive, but at least you have dental insurance to help with your out of pocket expenses.





If you have the tooth extracted, the teeth on either side of the space will shift. A bridge can be done to prevent this, but if you're looking at cost effectiveness, a root canal and a crown is less expensive than an extraction and a bridge.





Your insurance has an annual maximum, so make sure a pre-treatment estimate is done prior to the crown. This way you'll know how much you'll be responsible for.





Good Luck!
Reply:Root canals are successful about 90%+ in the back teeth and generally go well. The cost is an investment in your health and may save you money in the long run. You should get regular checkups and cleanings to catch problems like this early when they are easier and cheaper to fix. Good Luck!
Reply:I have had several root canals (not that I'm proud :) and they are well worth it with an experienced endodontist (root canal therapy dentist) as opposed to having a gaping hole in one's mouth and especially since you are so young as someone else pointed out. If you get the tooth pulled, you would still need to get a bridge or 'flipper' to give a decent cosmetic look to your smile. I'm not sure how much that costs either, but if you have a choice, I would go with the root canal providing that you go to an endodontist with a good reputation.
Reply:saving the tooth is your best bet if at all possible. who knows, down the road you might have more cavities and this and that and saving your teeth as best you can will save you money in the long run because you might need implants which are sooo expensive!
Reply:I was a dental assistant in the army for several years, the cost of dental treatment was never an issue for the patients


or the care providers. From that view point it is always better


to save the functionality of the tooth, by taking the dentist reccomomended course of treatment. You can't grow another


tooth. If you can afford it financially go with the root canal and crown. Don't worry about the horror stories you've heard about the proccedure after all your allready in pain. The treatment is meant to elliminate the cause of the pain and retain the fuctionality of the tooth. If cost is a problem perhaps


extraction would be a better course of action.