Extraction of teeth with existing root canal is a complex procedure. The tooth and its roots become very brittle and fracture easily during extraction. This requires careful surgical techniques to remove the teeth gently while preserving the surrounding bone important for healing and future implant placement.
According to the American Association of Endodontists, patients who choose root canal treatment are six times more likely to describe it as painless than patients who opt for tooth extraction. After a root canal, the tooth and the surrounding area may feel sensitive for a few days.
A tooth with a previous root canal: Teeth that have had root canals and have broken down are harder to remove than normal teeth. A root canal makes the tooth more brittle and susceptible to fracture during the extraction process making it more of a task for your dentist to remove the entire tooth.
Once the tooth has been loosened, it is taken out by the root. Next, the area is cleaned and disinfected and finally sutured shut. It usually takes only about 5 minutes for each tooth to be extracted.
In most cases, root canal therapy is a better way to treat an infected tooth than an extraction. However, there are exceptions, such as if the tooth has suffered extreme damage. Your dentist will carefully analyze your oral health before making a treatment recommendation.
What is the most difficult tooth to extract? Impacted wisdom teeth are wisdom teeth that have failed to erupt properly. They are generally considered to be the most difficult teeth to extract.
In the rare event of a failed root canal procedure that can not be remedied by retreatment or an apicoectomy, it may be necessary to extract the infected tooth. While extraction is the last resort, it is a permanent solution.
Root canals can be a painful procedure. In fact, many find it to be more painful than an extraction, but the use of local anesthesia can reduce the pain. The procedure starts by first examining the patient's mouth with X-rays. These help to determine the severity of the infection and the number of teeth infected.
While rare, an infection in the bone or an infected root canal are the most common reasons for ongoing post root canal pain. These infections can happen days, weeks, or even years after the procedure.
The extraction often requires drilling and sectioning of the roots and controlled pressure of special elevators. Even if you are numb with local anesthesia, the sensation from such interventions may be uncomfortable.
Like any other medical or dental procedure, though, a root canal can occasionally fail. This is normally due to a loose crown, tooth fracture, or new decay. Root canals can fail soon after the procedure, or even years later.
Tooth infections are severe and generally need people to be treated with antibiotics before proceeding with the removal. In such cases, dentists prefer performing endodontic therapy to preserve the tooth. However, if the tooth's internal structure is affected, the only alternative available is to extract the tooth.
During a root canal, the nerve and pulp are removed, and the inside of the tooth is then cleaned and sealed. It's important to note that a root canal does not kill the tooth. While root canals do remove the nerves inside the tooth, these nerves serve little function in a fully formed tooth.
How long does a tooth extraction take? This procedure is quicker than you'd think. The entire process of pulling a tooth—from administering the anesthetic to applying stitches if needed—typically takes anywhere between 20-40 minutes. That said, the procedure will take longer if you require more than one tooth pulled.
Root canal reinfection isn't common, but it isn't unheard of either. Root canal procedures are overwhelmingly successful; however, a previously treated tooth can become reinfected days, weeks, months, or even years after the initial procedure.
In most cases, the sensitivity and discomfort associated with a root canal should go away within a few days. If it does not get better, or if the pain is severe or unrelieved by home measures, it is important to call the endodontist or dentist for an evaluation.
Occasionally, an infection can persist or reemerge after you have undergone root canal therapy. When this happens, retreatment of the root canal might become necessary. If that approach is unable to completely and fully eradicate the infection, root canal surgery can resolve the issue.
Extracting or removing a tooth that has died is a relatively simple relatively painless form of treatment. You should expect to receive either local or general anesthesia for the procedure, depending on your preference or the recommendation of your dentist.
Nerve injury
It can cause pain, a tingling sensation and numbness in your tongue, lower lip, chin, teeth and gums. The damage is usually temporary, lasting for a few weeks or months. However, it can be permanent if the nerve has been severely damaged.
Signs of infection for both root canal treatment and extraction are similar and include worsening pain, fever, returning swelling in the area, nausea, or bleeding. Contact your dentist or endodontist if you experience any signs of infection or dry socket after either procedure.
Yes. Endodontists use X-rays to find and treat a failed root canal because it's often hard to see any problems with the naked eye. By taking x-rays, your endodontist can check on how your treatment is going and see if there are any problems inside or near the root of your tooth.
Examples of complicated tooth extraction cases include entangled roots, impacted teeth, very large sinuses and mouth infections. If one of the teeth that need to be pulled is already fractured, it is likely that it will fracture even more while being pulled, requiring the skills of a trained oral surgeon.