Our goal is to save as many of your natural teeth as possible, so extracting a tooth is usually a last resort when other treatment methods are not feasible or successful. Saving your natural teeth can help prevent a wide variety of issues from occurring in the future, including misalignment, jawbone deterioration, tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss. Keep reading to learn about the different alternatives to extraction.
Root Canal
A root canal is probably the most notable alternative to tooth removal, since the objective of this common procedure is to save a decayed or damaged tooth. We perform root canals on patients with tooth decay, gum disease, abscessed teeth, or dental fractures. A root canal involves disinfecting a tooth's entire canal, which is the space inside your tooth that goes all the way down to the tooth's root. After we remove all the infected pulp, we seal your tooth and place a crown over it to prevent reinfection. Contrary to what many people believe, root canals involve minimal discomfort, and they save you from needing to have a tooth removed.
Crown
A crown is a tooth-shaped cover made of porcelain, metal, resin, or a combination of these materials. In addition to being used to strengthen a weakened tooth after a root canal procedure, crowns are also commonly used as a restorative treatment for a wide variety of dental issues, such as chipped or cracked teeth, teeth with large fillings, severely discolored teeth, and more. If your tooth is not damaged or diseased beyond repair and the root is still viable, stabilizing the tooth with a crown is a great alternative to extraction.
Bridge
Like crowns, dental bridges are restorations that can be used to repair a variety of issues. A bridge is a row of prosthetic teeth that fits over one or more worn down, damaged, or otherwise compromised teeth. It is held in place by crowns that fit over healthy teeth known as "abutment teeth" on either side of the problem area, so bridges are a good alternative to extraction for people with only one or a few weakened teeth in a single area. If you want to discuss your options for treating a diseased or damaged tooth, contact us today.
Our goal is to save as many of your natural teeth as possible, so extracting a tooth is usually a last resort when other treatment methods are not feasible or successful. Saving your natural teeth can help prevent a wide variety of issues from occurring in the future, including misalignment, jawbone deterioration, tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss. Keep reading to learn about the different alternatives to extraction.