Saving a natural tooth where possible
Root canal treatment removes infected or inflamed tissue from inside a tooth, cleans the canals and seals them. When the remaining tooth can be restored predictably, retaining it can help preserve your natural bite and avoid the need to replace a missing tooth.
When extraction becomes the better option
If a tooth is badly cracked, extensively decayed or cannot support a reliable restoration, removal may be safer. Your dentist explains whether a bridge, denture or dental implant could be appropriate afterwards.
A decision made together
The right choice depends on your symptoms, the tooth’s condition, medical history, treatment prognosis and budget. We will explain the alternatives clearly rather than assuming one option suits every patient.
Adapted from information originally published by our Haywards Heath practice.
