Root Canal vs. Extraction: Comparing Pain, Cost & Recovery

Both root canals and surgical tooth extractions are common medical procedures in the United States. A root canal removes bacteria from an infected tooth, essentially replacing part or all of the root with a type of filling. An extraction involves removing the tooth altogether.

The cost of a root canal varies from $600 to $1,400 on average. The cost of a tooth extraction usually ranges from $130 to $500.

Surgical Treatment to Promote Good Oral Health

Thanks to several medical advances, more people than ever before are able to maintain good oral health and keep the majority of their natural teeth through their lifetimes. However, even people who maintain overall good oral health may need surgical dental treatment, which can include a root canal or a tooth extraction.

Thousands of adults in the United States are more prone to periodontal disease due to genetics, underlying conditions, misaligned teeth, or other causes. This can increase the risk of more serious oral health problems, including periodontal infection severe enough to require a root canal or removing the tooth. Both of these procedures are outpatient surgeries, with a few weeks’ recovery time, and prescription medicines like painkillers or antibiotics.

Dentists are most likely to recommend treatment that provides the best health outcomes, which typically involves keeping as much of the tooth as possible – so, you are more likely to have a root canal recommended than a tooth extraction. However, your dentist may recommend an extraction for different reasons, or offer you the option of a root canal vs. an extraction. Here are some important points for comparison between the two procedures, so you can understand them.

Root Canal Specifics

A root canal is a procedure designed to eliminate bacteria from an infected root of the tooth, save as much of the tooth tissue as possible, and prevent reinfection of the tooth or surrounding teeth. The basic procedure during a root canal involves removing infected pulp, or dentin, from inside the tooth, cleaning and disinfecting the inside to save as much of the tooth’s roots as possible, and then filling the tooth. Your dentist may need to add dental implants to stabilize the filling or cover the tooth with a crown to reshape it. However, this is not always necessary.

The basic steps of a root canal are:

• Your dentist will numb the area around the infected tooth.
• They will make an opening in the infected tooth to reach the dentin.
• Once the dentin has been removed, the pulp chambers will be fully cleaned to remove any excess bacteria or pockets of infection.
• Your dentist will fill the tooth with a material called gutta percha, a special type of filling specifically to replace dentin.
• If some roots are damaged or dead, your dentist may remove them.
• If your tooth needs more structure, you may receive dental implants for a later dental crown to reshape the tooth.

Once this treatment is complete, your dentist will schedule any necessary follow-up appointments, including a second root canal procedure to complete cleaning and tooth shaping, a procedure to fit you for a crown, and a simple check-up to ensure your tooth is healing.

Potential Risks

If your endodontist can perform a root canal on your tooth rather than removing the entire tooth, they will recommend this option. It is healthier for your teeth overall to leave as much of a natural tooth as possible in place, even when this requires extensive treatment like a root canal.

Root canals are surgical procedures, so there can be complications during the healing process or that are caused by the root canal itself.

It is important to know that these are uncommon risks associated with root canals. This procedure has existed for more than a century, has been thoroughly studied, and is the best option for most people.

In some cases, your endodontist will recommend a tooth extraction instead or as a cheaper option compared to a root canal, but there are more serious risks associated with extraction.

Why Root Canals Are Chosen Over Extractions

Endodontists recommend root canals over extractions in most cases because:

• Maintaining as much of the tooth as possible allows for better natural fit for your teeth, keeping your chewing action and jaw muscles healthy.
• Root canals maintain the natural appearance of teeth.
• Root canals protect other teeth from excessive wear and tear due to bite changes.

Although you may worry about your long-term oral health if the dentin is removed from inside your tooth, endodontists agree that adult teeth can survive as long as an internal support structure, like a filling, is placed where the dentin used to be. Root canals are relatively painless, thanks to local anesthetics, require only one or two treatments, and restore most functionality to the individual tooth and your teeth overall, without disrupting your bite or smile.

Root canals are fairly quick, outpatient surgical procedures. Most people need only local anesthesia, which will keep your mouth numb for between two and four hours after the procedure. It is possible you may be a little tired the next day, but you should be able to return to work, school, or family responsibilities.

Cost of Root Canal

You may worry about the cost of a surgical procedure like a root canal. Rest assured that your dental insurance should cover part of the cost of a root canal, although they will also cover some of the cost of a tooth extraction if your dentist deems it medically necessary.

Cost can vary based on which tooth requires a root canal:

• Front tooth: $600 to $900
• Bicuspid tooth: $700 to $1,000
• Molar tooth: $1,000 to $1,400

Tooth Extraction Specifics

A tooth extraction may sound simpler than a root canal. Rather than cleaning and re-sculpting a damaged tooth, why not simply remove it? This was the standard practice in dentistry for centuries, but since the late 20th century, medical advances in dentistry have allowed most patients to retain the basic structure of their teeth through a root canal.

However, there are several cases when a surgical tooth extraction is a better solution than a root canal. For example, if your teeth are crowded, your dentist may remove a tooth to make room for dental prosthetics or braces. The vast majority of Americans have their wisdom teeth removed, so it is likely that you have already experienced a type of surgical extraction for both health and cosmetic purposes.

You or your dentist may opt to remove a tooth because of:

• Extensive cavities.
• Gum disease.
• Advanced periodontal infections.
• Trauma or injury to the tooth and/or the surrounding bone.

Since a tooth extraction is typically associated with periodontal disease, your dentist will likely clean your teeth right before the procedure and prescribe antibiotics to ensure you have an overall healthy mouth. On the day of the procedure, your dentist will:

• Apply local anesthetic to the area around the damaged tooth.
• Give you a mild sedative if you have dental anxiety.
• Shift the gums and begin removing the tooth, potentially in several pieces.
• Scrape any remaining root or tooth tissue out of the area.
• Stitch the gums closed to assist the healing process.

When you return home after the procedure, you may need to change the gauze in your mouth several times. This may last for one or two days after the procedure, but you should notice a significant drop in bleeding as the wound closes after the first day. You may receive a prescription for painkillers, but your dentist will likely recommend focusing on over-the-counter options like ibuprofen or acetaminophen since these can control inflammation as well as pain.

You will also need to avoid certain foods for the first few days after the extraction, particularly crunchy foods or drinks you need to suck through a straw. Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, or using mouthwashes containing alcohol. Continue to brush and floss, but be gentle around the extraction site to promote healing.

Potential Risks

Postsurgical problems from tooth extractions are similar to those of root canals, especially the increased risk of infection. There is also a risk that your gums will not heal properly or quickly, which can cause pain.

There are some other risks associated with tooth extractions that can damage your oral health long term, particularly if you do not get a dental implant to replace the missing tooth.

Cost of Dental Extractions

Dental extractions can vary in cost, but if your dentist deems it medically necessary, then your insurance should help cover the cost.

A simple routine extraction may cost as little as $130; an extraction requiring the removal of gum or bone tissue may cost as much as $370; and wisdom tooth removal may cost about $500 for the procedure, not including the cost of anesthetic.

There may be other associated fees for prescriptions, x-rays, cleanings, and other treatments.

The Necessity of Root Canals & Extractions

It is important to stop periodontal disease as soon as possible, and this may include getting a root canal or a tooth extraction. Periodontal disease is linked to an increased risk of losing multiple teeth, to losing bone density in the jaw, and to other diseases like diabetes and heart disease. Your dentist will do their best to save your tooth, but in some instances, this may not be possible.

Whether you have a root canal or an extraction, you may need to get a dental implant and a crown to maintain your bite and prevent your teeth from shifting.

Both root canals and extractions are recommended only when medically necessary.

References

Adult Oral Health. (December 2020). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Date fetched: May 14, 2021.

Root Canal vs. Extraction: Which Is Right for You? Colgate. Date fetched: May 14, 2021.

What Is a Root Canal? American Association of Endodontists (AAE). Date fetched: May 14, 2021.

Average Cost of a Root Canal in the United States: What You Can Expect. (March 2021). Value Penguin. Date fetched: May 14, 2021.

What to Know About Tooth Extraction. (November 2019). Medical News Today. Date fetched: May 14, 2021.

Periodontal Disease and Systemic Health. American Academy of Periodontology (AAP). Date fetched: May 14, 2021.

Myths About Root Canals. American Association of Endodontists (AAE).

Root Canal Treatment: Informed Consent: Patient Information. (September 2017). Queensland Government.

Tooth Extraction Risks. (April 2021). News, Medical, Life Sciences.