If you’ve ever been told that you need root canal treatment, a wave of questions probably came over you: will it hurt? How long will it take? What does this mean for my tooth? Can I afford it? 

It is the last question that often strikes as much fear in patients as they prospect of the root canal itself. While it’s true that root canal treatment is certainly not inexpensive, it does offer many advantages to the only alternative: tooth extraction. The only way to cure a dental infection permanently is via root canal treatment or removal of the tooth. Given those two options, and knowing that extraction is far less expensive, is root canal treatment really worth it?

The short answer is a resounding “yes.” Aside from the ability to keep your own, natural tooth, there are plenty of other reasons why root canals are more than worth their cost. 

Assume for a moment that you did choose to extract your tooth instead of having a root canal. You now must replace it somehow. Every replacement option will cost as least as much as the root canal itself, and quite possibly more. Not to mention the fact that none of these replacements can possibly compare to the benefit of keeping your natural tooth. 

Suppose you chose to extract the tooth and not replace it. This actually has worse consequences. The area where the tooth once was will slowly lose bone, causing teeth to drift over time. And of course, chewing, eating, and speaking will be different with one less tooth. If the tooth is near the front of your mouth, there are obvious aesthetic concerns, as well. 

The bottom line is that root canals, like most major dental procedures, are somewhat expensive. But the value in these types of treatments goes far beyond the cost. When you consider that every alternative will cost more and result in something less functional than your own tooth, the evidence is clear: root canal treatment is absolutely worth it.