What are the alternatives to root canal treatment?
One alternative is to do nothing. Few patients find this an acceptable alternative as any discomfort they are experiencing will usually increase as the level of inflammation increases. While not all abcessed teeth elicit pain, bone destruction or cracks in the teeth will continue to expand such that the teeth cannot be saved even when root canal treatment is undertaken. Extraction is the other alternative. Removal of the tooth eliminates the source of the problem, but introduces a new question. How do we replace the missing tooth? Replacement of the tooth may not only compromise teeth adjacent to the space, but is often more costly. If the tooth is not replaced, shifting of the remaining teeth may lead to exposed root surfaces, junctions that are difficult to cleanse making decay more likely, and periodontal problems.
