Do I REALLY have to get Root Canal Treatments?

I have a few teeth that are bad. My dentist says that they all need root canal treatments, which it turns out is really two procedures: a root canal and a dental crown. He’s saying it’s really important to do that in order to save my teeth. It feels like he’s just trying to get more money out of me. It would be much cheaper just to take the teeth out. Why do they need to be saved?

Simon

Dear Simon,

I’m glad you wrote. It actually is important to save your teeth. I know you’re trying to save money, which is completely understandable. We all want to save money where we can. However, not saving your teeth will actually end up costing you more in either replacement costs or health costs.

If you don’t save the tooth then it will need to be replaced. To get a really good replacement will end up being more expensive than a root canal treatment and dental crown. There are cheaper replacements, but they will reduce your quality of life. You will lose bone structure and your chewing capacity would go down. That makes it harder for you to eat the foods you need to get the nutrients your body needs.

If you don’t replace the teeth at all, then the adjacent teeth will shift and tip into the empty spots. This will throw off your bite and lead to things like jaw pain, headaches, and potentially TMJ Disorder. On a less medical level, your smile is one of the first thing people notice about you. You want to avoid big gaps in your smile for aesthetic reasons.

My suggestion is you save the teeth. I make no money telling you this. I don’t know who your dentist is, so I am not trying to get them business. I just want you to have the best oral health and quality of life possible.

This blog is brought to you by San Antonio, TX Endodontist Dr. Scott Janse.
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