Root Canal vs Extraction: Which is Right for You?
When to save a tooth with RCT and when extraction (with an implant) is the smarter long-term choice. An honest guide from an MDS Prosthodontist in Nashik.
The general rule
If a tooth can be saved with root canal treatment (RCT) and a crown, it almost always should be — nothing replaces a natural tooth quite as well as the tooth itself. Extraction is the right choice only when the tooth is truly beyond repair.
When RCT is the better choice
Sufficient tooth structure remaining to support a crown.
No vertical root fracture on CBCT.
Bone support around the tooth is adequate.
You want the fastest, least-invasive fix (RCT + crown in 2–3 weeks vs implant in 4 months).
When extraction + implant makes more sense
Vertical root fracture — no RCT can save this.
Extensive decay leaving little tooth to build on.
Failed retreatment where microscope endodontics can't help.
Severely mobile tooth from advanced gum disease.
Cost comparison
RCT + crown is typically less expensive than extraction + implant + crown in the short term, but life-of-treatment cost often evens out over decades. We give you a written comparison for your specific tooth at consultation.
Talk to Dr. Pranav Poond directly
Get a personalised, written estimate and honest advice — no obligation.