Is it right to say that RCT removes part of a tooth whereas extraction removes the whole tooth?
465213
A root canal procedure removes the blood and nerve supply to the tooth.  This is accomplished by accessing the pulp chamber through the top of the tooth.  Each canal is disinfected and sterilized.  An inert material is placed in the cleaned canals in order to prevent bacteria from colonizing the canal again in the future.  The entire external portion of the tooth remains intact for a root canal procedure.  This is strikingly different from an extraction in which the whole tooth is removed from the mouth.  \n\nWhen teeth are missing, dentists can make "bridges" to replace teeth.  This requires teeth in front and behind the missing spaces.  These adjacent teeth are shaved down and crowns with fake floating teeth called pontics are cemented in permanently.  There are other options such as implants or partial dentures for missing teeth.
1040304
The tooth is basically encased in bone. They usually cut away the "roof" of bone and a little bit around the tooth to get it out. The hole that is left over usually fills back in with bone and shouldn't cause any problems.
1093543
You can lose the crown over the tooth that had a root canal but since the root canal removes the nerve and pulp, that part is permanent.
921955
Your doctor will know the best because he has seen the tooth.\n\nSometimes putting people on antibiotics if the tooth is causing an infection is done so that it will be easier to get numb.    \n\nHowever some of the answers that were posted were not correct.  \n\nFrom one of the main oral surgery books by Peterson: "The perils of tooth extraction in the presence of swelling is a myth that has been passed from one generation of dentists to another."  He goes on to list the studies and results that show that taking a tooth out at the time it is infected actually had less problems than waiting.  "The patients who had recieved the early treatment recovered more rapidly and required subsequent incision and drainage (of an infection) less frequently than in those patients in whom the treatment was delayed.  In addition, those with later extractions had a greatly increased incidence of extraoral drainage."\n\nHowever, I would trust your doctor and as I said there are times when it is ok to wait, especially if the problem is not that serious and to make it easier to numb you up.
132294
If he is a smart dentist, he is not going to give you extracted teeth.  They are a biohazard and should be disposed of accordingly.
974831
Get it out!!! Oh I totally feel for you and know exactly what you are saying. I am a dental assistant and I work in a dental office, however the doctors in my office did not want to remove my wisdom teeth because of the way they sat in relation to the nerves, etc. I waited it out, forever in so much pain before I finally saw an oral surgeon, who specifically deal with extractions opposed to general dentists. He did a great job, and no after effects, and all the pain is gone! I strongly advise you to get in there and get them out. They always warn you about the risks, they have to, but not to worry. You will be in good hands. Good luck!!!
257886
It occurs when the pulp (nerve) of a tooth is infected.  Yes it is dangerous if not treated because the infection can spread throughout the rest of your body.  More than likely, it'll just land you in the hospital.  Worst case scenerio... it could kill you.\n\nUmmm actually... to correct the person below me... it doesn't eat through your jaw, etc.  At the tip of each tooth is an apical foramen (an opening) where the nerves of the tooth flow out to the rest of the body.  If there is infection in the nerve of the tooth it can go out into the rest of the body through the apical foramen if it isn't treated.  And I would not compare it to cancer at all.
167956
"alveolectomy"\nit removes the excess alveolar process (bony growth) after single tooth extraction or multiple extractions. this leads to the creation of an ideal ridge form for the placement of dentures.\n\n"alveoloplasty"\nit is basically the reshaping of bone rather than removal. it is done in extraction sockets when the wound closure becomes difficult due to the sharp bone present or on edentulous ridges where the protuberance hinders the placement of dentures &/or causes pain during the same.\n\nboth the above are termed as preprosthetic surgeries.
888891
ANGELINA,\nYOUR RDA FRIEND IS MOST CORRECT TO WAIT UNTIL THE SIGNS OF THE ABSCESS HAVE DISAPPEARED BEFORE THE FINAL CROWN IS PLACED.\nIF THIS TOOTH WAS A FIRST UPPER MOLAR, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF A PREVIOUSLY UNDETECTED 4th CANAL.\nTHE ABSCESS SHOULD HAVE GONE DOWN IN SIZE FOR RCT TREATMENT 3 WEEKS AGO.\nGO BACK AND FIND OUT WHY THIS ABSCESS HASN'T DECREASED.
595699
Root canals are the long passages full of soft tissue deep within the dentin of a tooth, adjoined the pulp chamber. In dentistry, a pulpectomy is an endodontic treatment to cure an infection of the root canal; informally a root canal. A root canal, coupled with internal tooth bleaching, is also used to fix teeth that have blackened due to infiltration of decayed soft tissue into the dentin in the teeth, most often seen in frontal incisors that have been injured through a sudden impact.\n\nAt the center of a tooth is a hollow area that houses soft tissue, known as pulp. This hollow area contains a relatively wide space towards the chewing surface of the tooth called the pulp chamber. This pulp chamber is connected to the tip of the root of the tooth via thin hollow pipe-like canals—hence, the term "root canal". Human teeth normally have one to four canals; teeth toward the back have the most canals. These canals run through the centre of the roots like pencil lead runs through the length of a pencil. The tooth receives nutrition through the blood vessels and nerves traversing these canals. Occasionally, a cavity on the outside of the tooth may allow this soft tissue to become infected. If left untreated a serious jaw infection can result. The infection and inflammation is very painful in most cases. Ideally treatment should take place before this happens.\n\nTo cure the infection and save the tooth, it is necessary for the dentist to open into the pulp chamber, and remove the infected pulp by scraping it out of the root canals. Once that is done, the dentist fills the cavity with an inert material, usually Gutta-percha, and seals up the opening. This procedure is known as root canal therapy. If enough of the tooth is damaged by the disease or removed as a result of the treatment, a crown may be required.
221282
There is always the option of having a tooth pulled if you do not want to have the root canal done.. it is your choice.  I would not recommend it because you need to save your teeth at all costs... you will regret it later in life if you do not.
1128353
I don't think so.  I have had both and the root canal was a lot less painful and it took a lot less time to recover afterwords.  You don't have to worry about losing the clot with a root canal, you don't have to worry about them having the break the tooth apart before pulling it (like with a molar) which I thought was horribly uncomfortable,  and you get to keep the tooth which is usually a plus.  Only problem is that pulling a tooth costs just a couple hundred dollars (usually) while root canals can cost a couple thousand once you get the procedure, the fill and/or post, and the crown.  So if cost is an issue, like it is with me, pulling the tooth may be the way to go.
1052121
i believe what you are talking about is a cantilever bridge and is actually a very conservative way to restore your smile when something like what happened to your tooth happens. you don't hear of this often cuz it takes special situations for it to occur. by doing the extraction and placing the bridge like that - it keeps him from having to do a 3 unit bridge which would involve yet another tooth . if it were my mouth i wouldn't hesitate on the treatment
715767
General dentistry treats all phases of dental needs for patients.\n\nOral surgery specializes to surgical phases of dentistry only, such as extractions or treating broken jaws.\n\nNeither one has anything to do with the cost of care. The cost of providing care is determined by the cost of doing business in your area. Have your "sister" seek out a dental school for hugely discounted treatment. However, she will receive treatment by dental students rather than experienced dentists.
299001
Root canal is a waste of money. Have it pulled instead like I did.
612200
here is the answer you are looking for...  first, do not go to mexico.  your dentist can do a partial root canal or a pulpectomy.  the fee for this procedure should be about 1/4 of the fee for a complete root canal.  this procedure will hold you over until you can save to get the final procedure done.  the partial root canal will remove all or most of the nerve and blood supply to the tooth.  you will have a temporary filling placed after the partial root canal procedure.  if you cannot afford the complete procedure, this is second best.  ask your dentist about this possibility.  of course if the tooth is severely decayed or broken, it may not be salvagable.  good luck...  a pulpectomy should be under 200 bucks and it includes the temporary filling.  make sure you finish what you started though.  an incomplete root canal can cause problems down the road.
535430
The first set of teeth are called the "milk teeth". The permanent teeth come in behind the milk teeth. This is called the mixed dentition stage. With pressure from the permanent tooth, the root of the milk tooth gets dissolved / eaten away, and the milk tooth then falls to make way for the permanent tooth. \n\nIf the permanent tooth is placed too far away, it will erupt even without the predecessor falling, as there is no obstruction, and then we see double teeth, a new tooth behind or by the side of the old one. Such a situation should not be allowed to remain for long, say more than a couple of weeks. Timely removal of the milk tooth in such a case will allow the permanent tooth to take its rightful place.