Did you know roughly fifteen million root canals are performed each year? If the nerve of a tooth is damaged by bacteria, a root canal is necessary to prevent the infection from spreading to the rest of the body.
Sadly, the root canal procedure is not without its risks. That’s why specialists may recommend some root canal alternatives before proceeding. But what are your other options?
In this article, we’ll briefly go over three of them. That way you can discuss the alternatives to a root canal with your doctor.
1. Dental Fillings
Dental fillings are only an option for people with cavities that aren’t caused by irreversible pulpitis. Irreversible pulpitis is when the pulp of the tooth is so inflamed that it will never recover.
If the pulpitis is reversible, there are some reasons why you might want a dental filling. If you retain the living tooth, it’s more resistant to cavities. That being said, large fillings require a lot of technique.
And your provider might not feel comfortable performing the procedure. Ultimately, it’s up to them whether or not they can perform it.
2. Extraction With Dental Restoration
Once you have irreversible pulpitis your only other alternative to a root canal is tooth extraction. While a root canal attempts to keep the living tooth, an extraction removes it completely.
Once the tooth is removed you have three options for restoration: a dental implant, a dental bridge, and dentures. Dental implants are by far the most popular option since it leads to less bone loss and gum problems than dentures.
That being said, if you’re missing multiple teeth, dentures will be a much more affordable option. Dental bridges are reserves for cases where two teeth are extracted right next to one another.
3. Regenerative Endodontics
The last option is the newest. Instead of removing the infected pulpitis, regenerative endodontics attempts to treat it. The practice does this by irrigating the disinfecting the root canals found inside the tooth.
After the irrigation the tooth is agitated. This causes bleeding at the apex of the roots. This is important because the blood provides the inflamed area with mesenchymal stem cells.
These stem cells, and other ones that can be injected, have the potential to heal the root of the tooth. Altogether, this is a more holistic alternative to a root canal.
That being said, it’s important to keep in mind that this method is still fairly untested. On top of that, it also requires extensive training to learn the technique.
So, depending on where you live it will likely be hard to find a provider that can offer it.
Appreciate Learning About Root Canal Alternatives? Keep Reading
We hope this article helped you learn more about root canal alternatives. Ultimately, the right option for you will depend on your specific circumstances.
So, discuss the issue with specialists and see what they recommend for your situation. Hopefully, you found this guide informative. Keep exploring to learn more about subjects like this on our website.
