Question:
I hear of alternatives to root canals through the local vines. I have
a root that is abcessed (sp?) and the dentist says I need a root
canal. A close friend says that there are other alternatives and I
would like to know what they are. Its not that I don't trust my new
dentist, I just want to cover all bases. The tooth is mostly filling
and it chipped, I believe, down to the root.
Answer:
The only alternative to root canal therapy is extraction.
The problem is not a need for bone regeneration but of complete bacterial
removal. When this occurs via Root Canal Therapy then you will have bone
regeneration. There is no other way to remove the bacteria inside the
canal of the tooth without performing a Root Canal. The only other
options are to 1. Ignore the problem and suffer or 2. Extract the tooth.
If you really need a root canal, the only alternatives are to have the
root canal and save the tooth or have it extracted. Medications,
antibiotics and such can keep things quiet for a time, but ultimately the
problem will worsen and you'll lose the tooth. Your dentist could do an
emergency procedure, by removing a portion of the nerve, but this is only
a temporary solution. Root canals cost, but done well they save the tooth
permenantly.
