When the tooth can be saved, a root canal is almost always the better choice. It preserves your natural tooth, maintains bite alignment, prevents bone loss, and costs less in the long run than extracting and replacing the tooth. An extraction is the right call when the tooth is too damaged to save — a vertical fracture, insufficient remaining structure, or a failed previous root canal. Dr. Nwokorie will show you exactly what the imaging reveals and explain which option makes sense for your specific case.

Both are performed under local anesthesia, so neither should be painful during the procedure. Post-procedure, a root canal typically causes less discomfort — mild soreness for a few days. An extraction can involve more significant soreness, swelling, and a longer healing period, especially if it's surgical. Dry socket (a complication specific to extractions) can cause intense pain if the healing clot is dislodged. Sedation is available for either procedure.

Most dentists are not against root canals — they're one of the most well-established, evidence-backed procedures in dentistry with a 95%+ success rate. A dentist might recommend extraction over a root canal in specific clinical situations: when the tooth is too damaged to restore, when a previous root canal has failed, or when the long-term prognosis of the tooth is poor regardless of treatment. The concern is always about whether the tooth can be successfully saved — not about root canals as a procedure.

Yes — removing the tooth removes the nerve entirely, which eliminates the pain associated with that tooth. However, the pain relief from a root canal is equally immediate, because the inflamed or infected nerve tissue is removed during the procedure. Both stop the pain. The difference is that a root canal stops the pain while keeping the tooth; an extraction stops the pain by removing it.

A tooth is typically beyond saving when it has a vertical root fracture (a crack running down the length of the root), when too much tooth structure has been destroyed by decay to support a crown, when severe bone loss around the root compromises support, or when a previous root canal has failed and retreatment isn't viable. Dr. Nwokorie uses 3D CBCT imaging to evaluate all of these factors before making a recommendation.

Yes. In many cases, an infected tooth can be extracted the same day. The dentist numbs the area, removes the tooth, and may prescribe antibiotics to clear any remaining infection. For severe infections with significant swelling, a short course of antibiotics before the extraction may be recommended to reduce the infection first. If you're in pain from an infected tooth, call us — we hold same-day emergency slots for exactly this.

The neighboring teeth drift into the space, the opposing tooth over-erupts, your bite shifts, and the jawbone at the extraction site begins to shrink. These changes happen slowly but progressively and lead to further dental problems — uneven wear, jaw pain, difficulty chewing, and facial shape changes. Replacing the tooth with an implant, bridge, or partial denture prevents these cascading effects.

In most cases, yes. A root-canaled tooth is hollowed out and more brittle, making it vulnerable to fracture under normal chewing. A crown holds the tooth together and protects it. Skipping the crown is the most common reason root-canaled teeth eventually fail. With our CEREC system, the crown can often be placed the same day.

You don't have to figure it out on your own. A clinical evaluation with 3D imaging shows exactly what's happening inside and around the tooth — the extent of the infection, whether there's a fracture, how much healthy tooth remains, and what the bone looks like. Dr. Nwokorie walks you through the images, explains both options, and gives you his honest recommendation. The decision is ultimately yours.