Can you opt to have a tooth removed in lieu of a root canal?

Question

I need to have a root canal on one of my molars, but it is very expensive. Even with insurance my portion of the bill, including the actual procedure and the crown, is almost $600. Also, I don't want to take time off of work to recuperate. I've heard this procedure is painful and it can take a few days for the pain to subside. I'm in college and if their is a cheaper and less time consuming alternative, I'd rather go for that one. Since the tooth is in the back of my mouth, it will be hard for people to notice, but I don't know if this is a viable option.

Answer 1

First of all, which molar is it? If it's a 3rd, go ahead and get it pulled, but I'm guessing it's not because I don't know any dentist who would do a root canal on a 3rd molar.

Second, if you do get it pulled, are you going to just leave it like that? I know most people won't notice since it's in the back, but this will cause problems latter that many people don't realize. Say it is a bottom first molar, for example. The top 1st molar, since it had no antagonist, will want to extrude from it's socket, and the bottom 2nd premolar and bottom 2nd molar will try to fill the empty space, causing those teeth to become misaligned and have maloclusion, well, you'll just be worse off in the future just cuz you wanted to save some money. Even if you don't get it taken care of with a bridge, you'll have to shell out more money because you won't be able to get a crown since you got that tooth extracted. Generally, a bridge is charged by the # of teeth involved, which will be 3 since you need to anchor off the 2nd premolar and molar, so it will be 3 times the cost of a crown.

In my opinion, $600 (I'm from California) after insurance kicks in is a good price for root canal and crown. Root canals these days can be done in 45 mins if you find a specialist. A colleague of mine did a root canal, post, and reconstruction in an hour and a half a few weeks ago. By the way, all those people that say they had a root canal and crown and lost it anyway probably didn't get a post put in which reenforces the tooth.

Bottom line: you're better off getting the root canal, post, and crown. Just do your homework and find a good root canal specialist so you don't have to go in 3-4 times like someone else mentioned.

Answer 2

You could potentially opt to have your tooth pulled -- I did once.

However here is what I was told. First, your jaw bones will deteriorate faster with a tooth being pulled rather than having the root canal done. Not to bad for one tooth, but you don't want to do it too much.

Also, I paid nearly that price 10 years ago for my tooth to be pulled -- what is your deductable, and would you actually save money since you have insurance?

Finally, it can be painful and take a few days for a tooth pulling as well as a root canal. I don't know if they are the same amount of time, but I needed a couple of days.

If your college has a school of dentistry nearby, check it out. Often the dentistry colleges can do this - generally it is much cheaper, and the instructers are WAY above average.

Answer 3

Yes you can. I was told that I needed a root canal and I asked about having the tooth removed instead. I have had several pulled. It is still painful, but a lot less expensive.

I had the opposing tooth pulled as well, but later found that I didn't need to do that. It was perfectly healthy, so there was really no need to have it pulled. The dentist told me I might have a problem chewing because the teeth would be uneven in the bite area. I won't do that again.

I would just go ahead and do it. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Dentistry has come a long way from the early days of painful root canals. I had one done recently on a back molar. The whole procedure took an hour, and was almost pain- and discomfort-free. There was very little pain afterward, and things were back to normal in only three days. I still have the tooth and it is still functional. Yes, the big drawback is the expense, and if you can't afford it, get the tooth removed.

Answer 5

You can decide to have the tooth pulled if you want. I had a root canal about 6 mos ago for the first time. I was scared to death and worried about the recovery. I had no pain, just a bit sore from the shots. That was it. So if that is what is worrying you, I would go for it. The cost is not the fun part but dentists are just expensive!!! Good luck. Nobody likes to go to the dentist but it's another one of those things we can not control I guess.

Answer 6

Just have it pulled. They cannot force you to have a root canal. My mom's dentist actually told her that it is a waste of money to have a root canal done because a lot of people end up losing the tooth in a couple of years anyway.

Answer 7

2 months ago I had a root canel, went back to work finished up for about an hour then went out to eat with my daughter at olive garden. It is no big deal. Then last month I had 4 teeth removed ran a few erends then my daughter and I went out to lunch. I would recomend the root canel try a payment plan. I wish I wouldn't of let my teeth that had to be removed go. They needed root canels but this was 10 years ago and my husband and I didn't have extra money with 2 young kids so I let then go don't.

Answer 8

Yes, tooth extraction is an alternative. I don't know about ur general dental health and cost of treatment, but another option would be to have the root canal done (either complete or a pulpectomy only), restore it and have it completely out off occlusion. You don't have the time and money now but you may have them later.

Answer 9

Don't waste your money or your time with a root canal. They are not only painful to your mouth, but to your wallet as well. The procedure is done over a course or 3 -4 visits to your dentist. When its all said and done, all you're left with is the shell, if that , of your tooth with filling in it. And I'll bet you $100 it'll give you trouble again in the future. Do yourself a favor and just have them pull the tooth out. You do have this option. Good luck

Answer 10

yes you can remove the tooth instead of having a root canal but there are problems in removing teeth too. your other teeth may move once a space is freed and it can cause you to have gaps between your teeth!