When a tooth nerve is infected, you have two broad choices: treat the canal and keep the tooth, or remove the tooth. As a general rule, if the tooth can be saved, saving it is the better long-term option, because nothing works quite like your own tooth.
When a root canal makes sense
If the tooth is infected but the structure is still sound enough to restore, root canal treatment cleans and seals the canal so the tooth can stay. It is done under local anaesthetic and usually finished with a crown for strength. It relieves the pain the infection was causing.
When extraction is the honest answer
If the tooth is broken down too far to restore, removing it and planning a replacement, such as an implant or bridge, may be the sensible route. We will tell you which applies to your tooth rather than push one option.
Do not wait it out
Tooth ache and a spreading infection do not settle on their own. If you have persistent pain or swelling, book a check quickly. During clinic hours we try to see dental emergencies the same day.