Root canal or extraction: which is right for your tooth?
When a tooth is badly decayed or infected, there are usually two choices: save it with a root canal treatment, or take it out. An extraction costs less on the day, but the gap it leaves often needs filling later. This guide compares the two, with the full cost of each at Healthpoint, so you can decide with your dentist.
The short answer
If the tooth can be restored, keeping it with a root canal is usually the better long-term choice: your own tooth keeps the bite stable and nothing needs replacing. An extraction makes sense when the tooth cannot be saved, or for wisdom teeth. At Healthpoint, a root canal with a crown starts from AED 648, while an extraction starts from AED 100 plus the cost of replacing the tooth, if you choose to.
What a root canal involves
Under local anaesthetic, the dentist removes the infected or inflamed nerve from inside the tooth, cleans and shapes the root canals and seals them. It usually takes one or two visits. Back teeth are weakened by the treatment and usually need a crown afterwards to stop them cracking. Most people have some tenderness for a few days. See root canal treatment.
What an extraction involves
Under local anaesthetic, the tooth is loosened and removed. A simple extraction takes a few minutes; a broken tooth or a wisdom tooth may need minor surgery. The socket heals over a week or two, and the bone underneath over a few months. See tooth extraction and our aftercare guide.
The full cost of each option at Healthpoint
| Option | What it involves | Starting price |
|---|---|---|
| Save the tooth | Root canal and a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown | From AED 648 |
| Save the tooth | Root canal and a zirconia crown | From AED 898 |
| Remove it, leave the gap | Simple extraction only | From AED 100 |
| Remove it, replace with a denture | Extraction and an acrylic partial denture for one tooth | From AED 449 |
| Remove it, replace with a bridge | Extraction and a three-unit porcelain-fused-to-metal bridge | From AED 847 |
| Remove it, replace with an implant | Extraction and an implant with its crown | From AED 3,600 |
Starting prices. Front teeth often do not need a crown after a root canal. The dentist confirms your price after examining the tooth and X-ray.
When saving the tooth makes sense
- Enough healthy tooth is left above the gum to hold a filling or crown.
- The gum and bone around the tooth are healthy.
- The tooth matters for chewing or appearance, or holds a bridge or partial denture.
- You want to avoid the cost and time of replacing a tooth later.
When an extraction makes sense
- The tooth is broken below the gum line, or the root is cracked.
- Gum disease has destroyed much of the bone holding the tooth.
- It is a wisdom tooth that keeps getting infected or has no room.
- A root canal has already been tried and the infection has come back, and retreatment is not likely to work.
What happens if you leave a gap
A missing back tooth is not always replaced, especially a wisdom tooth or a second molar. But over time, the teeth either side can tilt into the gap, the tooth above or below can grow down into the space, and chewing can shift to the other side. These changes make it harder and more expensive to replace the tooth later. If you plan to replace it, ask the dentist how long you can wait. Our guide to dentures, bridges and implants compares the options.
Frequently asked questions
Is a root canal more painful than an extraction?
Both are done under local anaesthetic, so you should feel pressure rather than pain during treatment. Afterwards, a root canal usually causes some tenderness for a few days, and an extraction a few days of soreness while the socket heals.
How long does a tooth last after a root canal?
There is no fixed time. With a well-fitting crown, good cleaning and regular check-ups, a root canal treated tooth can last many years. Teeth left without a crown at the back are more likely to crack.
Can I leave the gap after a back tooth is removed?
Sometimes, especially for wisdom teeth. Elsewhere, the neighbouring and opposite teeth can drift into the gap over time, so ask the dentist whether to replace the tooth and when.
Can a badly broken tooth still be saved?
Often, if enough of the root is healthy. The dentist may rebuild it with a post and core under a crown. If the break goes far below the gum or splits the root, extraction is usually the better option.
Medical review: to be completed by a Healthpoint dentist, whose name and title will be shown here. This guide is general information, not a diagnosis; your dentist will advise on your own teeth.