I had a toothache in my bottom right first molar several weeks that escalated so bad I made an appointment with a nearby dentist even though I was not her patient. The dentist took an x-ray and said that the tooth is infected, so I need a root canal to save the tooth. I already lost my second molar. The dentist also recommends a dental implant for the missing tooth. I was hoping for a cheaper resolution. Can I just have the tooth extracted and use a removable appliance like a snap-on smile when I am in public. I work from home, so I think I can manage social with something cheaper than an implant. Thank you. Brandon from WV

Brandon,

Thank you for your question.

It is good that you saw a dentist right away. Without treatment, a tooth infection will spread and become more costly to treat.

Should You Get Your Molar Tooth Extracted?

You should not get your tooth extracted unless it is so damaged or infected that it cannot be saved and is affecting your health. If you have already lost your second molar, removing the infected first molar would leave you without any lower right teeth for chewing. It would affect your diet and your oral health—not just how your smile looks in public. Also, without molar teeth, the neighboring teeth will begin to drift into the space.

Any appliance that snaps onto front teeth with no support in the back will be unstable. The instability is like a long table with legs in the middle and only one end. Any pressure on the table will cause it to tip or fall. Your oral appliance will lift or fall out without back teeth supporting it.

Root Canal Treatment or a Dental Implant?

Root can treatment is better than removing your tooth and replacing it with a dental implant. Although dental implants are highly effective, they are not better than preserving natural teeth.

Root canal

The root canal procedure removes the infection. After getting a root canal on a molar tooth, you will need a crown to protect it and help the tooth withstand the forces of grinding and chewing on back teeth. Also, a root canal is less expensive than a dental implant.

Dental implant

When a dentist must remove your tooth before placing an implant, it requires oral surgery. And after your dentist places the implant, you will need three to four months of healing time before receiving your final dental crown.

We hope you will decide to keep your natural tooth and protect your oral health for the long term.

 

Ryan Perry, DD, a Baton Rouge family dentist, sponsors this post.