Do Endodontists Pull Teeth?
When a tooth is severely damaged, diseased, or decayed, it may become necessary to extract the tooth. This can occur due to the extent of the damage, such as a root fracture or severe dental caries, or when there is insufficient bone support for an implant. In such cases, an endodontist may recommend extraction over root canal treatment. But do endodontists actually pull teeth?
The short answer is: yes, endodontists can pull teeth. However, it is important to note that root canal treatment is often a more conservative and less invasive option. As a specialized dentist, an endodontist is skilled in performing root canal procedures to save teeth that would otherwise be lost. Root canals involve removing the infected pulp from the center of the tooth and filling the space with special materials to prevent further infection.
If you need to have a tooth extracted, your endodontist will first assess the situation and determine the best course of action. If a root canal treatment is possible and the tooth is still alive, endodontists typically attempt to save the tooth through root canal therapy. But if the tooth is beyond saving, or if there are complications that make root canal therapy impractical, then extraction may become necessary.
So, while endodontists can indeed pull teeth, they prefer to save them whenever possible, utilizing root canaltherapy as a preventive measure for as long as possible. By choosing root canal therapy, you retain a natural tooth and avoid the need for costly and invasive procedures, such as dental implants or partial or total dentures.
