Symptoms & diagnosis
Alternatives to extraction in Burton upon Trent
"It will have to come out" is heard more often than it should be. A great many teeth written off because of a large infection, a failed root filling or a canal that defeated someone else can be kept; a few genuinely cannot. This assessment tells you which, with the reasoning and the realistic odds in writing.
Why a natural tooth is worth keeping
Your own tooth sits in a ligament that senses pressure, stops you biting too hard and keeps the bone around it alive. No replacement does that. A well-made implant or bridge is a fine answer when a tooth truly cannot be saved, but it involves surgery or the cutting of neighbouring teeth, costs more over a lifetime and, once the natural tooth is gone, the choice is gone too. A properly treated and crowned tooth, by contrast, routinely lasts for decades. The guide root canal versus implant weighs the two in detail.
What is assessed
- How much tooth remains. Whether there is enough sound structure above the gum to carry a crown reliably.
- Cracks. Examination under the microscope with dye and light; a split root is the one finding that rules out saving the tooth.
- Bone support. X-rays show how firmly the root is held and whether gum disease has loosened it.
- The canals and previous work. Anatomy, the quality of an existing root filling, posts, blockages and the extent of infection are all weighed.
- The rest of your mouth. A tooth is saved in order to be used, so its role in your bite and your wider dental plans matter too.
The possible answers
The tooth may be a candidate for root canal treatment, for retreatment of a failed root filling or for endodontic surgery where the canal cannot be reached from above — each with a realistic estimate of success for your tooth rather than a general figure. Where extraction is the better course — a cracked root, bone support that has gone, too little tooth left — you will be told so plainly, and the report to your dentist will help them plan the replacement.
How you receive the advice
In writing, after the consultation, with the diagnosis, the options, their likely outcomes and the fees. You are not asked to decide on the day, and no tooth with a poor outlook is treated simply because it is technically possible.
Second opinions
You are welcome to come before accepting an extraction or an implant plan, with or without a referral — the guide do I need a referral to see an endodontist? explains how that works. Bring recent X-rays or ask your dentist to send them. If the original advice was right, you will hear that too.