Plano Dentist: The Power Of A Smile And Why Your Teeth Matter More Than You Think

Plano Dentist: The Power Of A Smile And Why Your Teeth Matter More Than You Think

by | Sep 16, 2022 | Dental Health, Family Dentistry, General Dentistry

There are over 7,000 languages and 3,000 cultures around the world. One universal thing that transcends and unites them all with ease is a smile. Whether in personal relationships, social settings, or professional spaces, giving a captivating smile can make people feel at ease with you and help make interactions more comfortable.

Apart from making other people warm up to you and trust you, a wonderful smile can also impact your own physical and mental health in quite unexpected ways. Not surprisingly, we smile more often during our childhood than at any other point in later life.

Why Do We Smile Less Often as We Get Older?

Stress and the rigors of modern life sometimes leave us with little to smile about. And even when we have a genuine reason to break into a winning smile, many among us shy away from it. The reason? Poor oral health or other factors that contribute to misaligned/discolored teeth.

Fortunately, restorative and cosmetic dentistry services can offer highly effective solutions to this dilemma. If you are in the north Dallas area, the dental practice of David Wilhite, DDS offers comprehensive dental care, including advanced cosmetic dental services to help improve your smile and achieve better dental health.

Before we look at the plethora of dental procedures and services offered at our Plano, TX dental health office, let’s take a closer look at just how much of a difference a smile can make in our lives.

The Power of a Smile

The ability to smile naturally and frequently can have a transformative impact on a person’s life. It is not an exaggeration. Numerous studies on the topic have indicated that the benefits of a smile can include the following:

  • Mental health benefits
  • General health benefits
  • Social benefits
  • Economic benefits

Let’s explore each of these in further detail to gain a true understanding of how important smiling can be to modern human life.

Mental Health Benefits of a Smile

A Powerful Anti-depressant

The ancestors of human beings first started smiling over 30 million years ago, according to some experts. Over time, our body has built up hidden connections between our brains and this seemingly innocuous movement of muscles around the mouth.

Whenever we smile, the brain is conditioned to release chemicals called neuropeptides. These neurochemicals activate the cells in our brains (neurons) and help fight stress. We know of over 100 such chemicals, including oxytocin and vasopressin.

Also called the “love hormone,” oxytocin creates the positive vibes that we feel when we fall in love or have babies. Low levels of oxytocin have been linked to severe depression. Similarly, vasopressin has potent anti-stress and anti-pain effects on the brain.

Along with neuropeptides, a smile can also trigger the release of other brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Of these, the most popular ones we hear about are dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins – the so-called “feel good” neurotransmitters.

Both dopamine and serotonin have a huge impact on our mood and emotions. They can help us feel intense pleasure and positivity. At high levels, they create feelings of bliss and euphoria. Frequent smiling can help keep these neurochemicals at healthy levels.

And the shocking thing is this – the smile doesn’t even have to be genuine for the brain to activate these chemicals! Even a forced smile can trigger the response automatically.

Confidence Booster

Apart from the chemical impact on the brain, the ability to show off an attractive smile also boosts our overall confidence and self-esteem levels. This point is fundamental because many of us forcefully suppress smiles out of peer pressure.

This usually happens in public or social settings, where our beauty standards are often artificially high. When we suffer from imperfections in the teeth or gums – things you see when we smile, basically – we are afraid to reveal these to others.

Discolored teeth, crooked or protruding teeth, and gum imperfections are common culprits. Fearing ridicule or embarrassment, many people try not to smile openly when in the company of others.

This can have serious negative consequences on our confidence and happiness levels. It is a vicious circle – the less we smile, the lower our levels of neurochemicals. This can make us feel more miserable, compounding the depression we already feel due to our insecurities.

In stark contrast, when we smile, we feel more confident. It can leave us feeling more positive and energetic. The self-esteem boost we get from a healthy, radiant smile is quite immense indeed.

Other General Health Benefits of Smiling

Endorphins like serotonin have important roles to play in other major organs in the body besides the brain. Along with reducing stress levels, these chemicals also improve our digestion, circulation, and overall blood pressure levels.

They stimulate the release of cortisol, a hormone vital for many key bodily functions. Cortisol regulates our blood sugar levels and stimulates the metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbs in the body. It also assists in the management of our sleep-wake cycles.

Perhaps most importantly, cortisol has immense implications for our immune system and the body’s ability to fight disease and inflammation. It affects nearly every major system in the body. Maintaining stable levels of cortisol is vital for overall health.

And people who smile often throughout their lives tend to have healthy levels of cortisol. Due to their generally positive and confident attitude and outlook, they also tend to live longer, healthier lives.

In an interesting study involving 1950s baseball cards, researchers discovered something astonishing. Players who had beaming smiles in their pictures were found to live almost 8 years longer on average than players who did not smile at all!

Social and Economic Benefits of Smiling

Smiling also has massive implications for our social lives and careers. Here are some ways in which showing your pearly whites can benefit you:

It can make you look younger

Strange as it may seem, this is actually quite true. It is a matter of perception more than actually reducing your age. When we are young, we tend to smile more often – children smile a whopping 400 times per day on average while most adults can barely manage 20.

When researchers showed college students a series of photographs of older people, the individuals with smiles were universally rated as younger than their true age. The ones with scowls and frowns on their faces were seen as older.

It can make you more attractive to your dates

A healthy smile is a big asset whether you are looking for a casual date or a life partner. It makes people perceive you as more attractive and approachable. Of course, many folks also find dark and brooding personalities attractive.

However, even those appearing “mysterious” need to smile once in a while – otherwise, it can get quite tiresome! Like the baseball card study, another one that looked at photos of college students found that smiling gives you a better chance at longer, happier marriages.

Gives you a winning personality in social and business circles

Just as in the romance game, smiles can also come in handy in other social situations. While excessive or fake smiles make you seem suspicious, a simple, genuine smile has a disarming effect on most people.

Smiling can help you get assistance in unfamiliar situations or when you are traveling overseas. Smiles help you bond quickly with other people and make new friendships. They can help you disarm potentially dangerous situations and prevent conflicts.

Very often, when you smile at someone, they return the courtesy. This is a natural human instinct of reciprocity. This is why people say that a smile is contagious.

Smiling can even improve your career prospects, be it in interviews or when dealing with clients. It can contribute to a positive work environment and make your colleagues or subordinates like you more. And in general, when you stay positive, your productivity also increases accordingly. Some studies even suggest that it can help you earn more money in life.

People with attractive smiles tend to earn at least 12% more income than those who are perceived to have less attractive teeth. Discolored or uneven teeth decrease your attractiveness by a whopping 20%.

In the long run, this can even scuttle your chances of success in the workplace. in a survey, over 74% of respondents believed that having a less attractive smile can impact your ability to gain promotion or succeed in business.

Anyone Can Have an Attractive Smile

The evidence is quite overwhelming. Poor oral health and dental health can have a negative impact on your chances of living a long and happy life. But all is not lost if you don’t have a winning smile already.

Advanced dental procedures in the field of restorative and cosmetic dentistry can make a huge difference. Through state-of-the-art treatments and procedures like dental implants, teeth whitening, and Invisalign, Plano dental health specialist David Wilhite, DDS MAGD can help you retain a beautiful smile, improve your oral health, and brighten up your whole life!

In this next segment, we will explore the various treatments and dental services that are used by millions of people around the globe to improve their smiles. The following are some of the dental treatments available at our Plano, TX dental office:

  • Dental implants crowns
  • Invisalign
  • Full mouth restorations
  • Porcelain crowns and veneers
  • Teeth whitening

Dental Implants

Nothing ruins a smile quite like a gap created by missing teeth. Whether it is right in the front row or a bit to the side, it can seriously affect your appearance and confidence. Folks suffering from this common issue often keep their mouths closed as much as possible in social settings. They may even try to avoid speaking as much as possible, let alone smile.

Dental implants offer an ideal solution to missing teeth. Whether you lost it due to injury, accident, or tooth decay, implants can help sort things out. A dental implant is actually a replacement for the root of the tooth, hidden inside your gums.

Once it is surgically placed on your jaw, it provides a stable foundation on which a realistic replacement tooth can be added. Implants are a much better alternative to dentures, the traditional treatment option for missing teeth in the past.

The implant crowns are made from durable substances and look like your real teeth. Apart from improving your smile, a dental implant can also improve speech, and make it easier to chew food.

Invisalign

This is a popular orthodontic treatment that provides a less embarrassing alternative to braces. Invisalign is a proven restorative and cosmetic dentistry treatment method that is designed to straighten out misaligned or protruding teeth.

Instead of visible and fixed metal braces, this new dental technology uses clear plastic trays that cover the entire row of teeth. While staying discreetly out of sight, the Invisalign trays gently move your teeth back into a proper position.

These removable braces are made from entirely safe, non-toxic plastic. Both teenagers and adults can use Invisalign without any concerns. Please note that you should not use these over the counter – a visit to an experienced Plano, TX cosmetic dentist is essential to making sure they actually work.

Unlike traditional metal braces, Invisalign is far more comfortable and easier to maintain. You will also have to make fewer visits to the dental office with these clear braces.

Porcelain Veneers and Crowns

There are two popular options used by our expert cosmetic dentist in Plano, TX to give you a more attractive smile. While they serve the same basic dental needs and are made from the same substances, veneers and dental crowns are quite different in nature.

A veneer is a thin covering placed over the front portion of your tooth to give it a more pleasing and even appearance. The cosmetic dentist will not make any serious adjustments to the tooth before attaching the veneer.

On the other hand, dental crowns cover the entire visible portion of the tooth. Both treatments are used for teeth that have been cracked or damaged due to tooth decay or fractures.

Teeth Whitening

With regular brushing and flossing, most people can maintain a healthy white shade on their teeth. With that said, due to diet or poor maintenance, yellow stains and discolorations can creep in over time.

Teeth whitening is a relatively simple and painless solution to this problem. The dental care solution uses whitening products – either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide – to remove stains and help your teeth appear pearly white.

You can choose from a wide range of teeth whitening solutions. While some can be applied at home, others may require a single visit to our Plano, TX dental office. Overuse of these substances can damage your teeth, so always use them after consulting a dental health professional.

Full Mouth Restorations

When your lack of a beautiful smile is not due to any single issue, it might be time to consider a full mouth restoration. This treatment plan is used in situations where the patient is suffering from multiple dental health issues like tooth decay, stains, poor alignment, and gum disease.

In a full-mouth restoration, the dentist will use a combination of cosmetic and general dentistry procedures. They can include implants, veneers, crowns, root canals, tooth extraction, whitening, Invisalign, and more.

This kind of dental work is often required for people who avoided going to a dental office for years. It is highly undesirable to ignore your dental health to an extent where a full-mouth restoration becomes necessary.

In the next segment, we will explore why poor oral health can have far more serious implications beyond just an ugly smile.

Importance of Healthy Teeth

Your mouth can offer a window into the general health of your entire body. Most people don’t realize this fact. Poor oral health often has direct and serious consequences for the rest of your body.

It impacts your access to nutrition

This one is fairly simple – you need strong teeth to chew a wider range of food items. A balanced diet made up of carbs, proteins, vitamins, and fats are essential for a healthy body. And that often involves eating harder fruits, nuts, and of course, meat for non-vegetarians.

If you are missing teeth in key areas, you may be unable to bite or chew certain food items. It is hard to maintain adequate nutrition based on a soft-foods diet. It requires extra effort that many people tend to avoid. This can lead to severe health issues.

It can affect key organ systems

The mouth is a critical gateway to the inside of your body. We make a lot of effort to ensure that we eat clean food that is free from microorganisms like bacteria. But if you ignore oral health, dangerous bacteria can multiply in your mouth.

These organisms can enter the rest of the body via multiple routes:

  • Through the digestive system
  • Through the bloodstream
  • Through the airways and lungs

The same bacteria that cause tooth decay and other gum diseases may also cause inflammation in the heart when they reach the organ via the bloodstream. This can have life-threatening complications like clogged arteries and heart disease (endocarditis).

Pneumonia in the lungs is another potential complication from bacteria in the mouth. Chronic oral infections have also been linked to pregnancy complications in mothers, with the baby suffering from premature birth and low birth weight.

Constant infections in the mouth can also put a strain on your body’s immune system. It can lead to worsening conditions such as diabetes, and in some cases, even oral cancer.

It leads to avoidable pain and healthcare costs

The most disheartening thing about many oral health issues is the fact that they are all preventable to some degree. Poor diet, bad lifestyle choices like the use of tobacco and drugs, and inadequate cleaning and maintenance are all factors that can be removed entirely or mitigated to a great extent.

When you neglect the health of your teeth and gums, eventually, effects like gum disease, infections, decay, and plaque set in. They all gradually lead to one common outcome – loss of teeth.

Once that happens, you have no option but to consult a dentist because the pain or discomfort becomes unbearable. With modern restorative and cosmetic dentistry services, you can solve most dental health issues and even get your teeth back (artificial or natural).

Prevention is a far better option for your dental health and general health in every way. And that involves several things:

  • A healthy and balanced diet with adequate calcium and minerals.
  • Regular cleaning and flossing of your teeth, minimum twice per day.
  • Regular visits to your family dentist for checkups and cleaning.

The Importance of Family Dentistry

A family dentist is a trusted expert offering preventative, restorative, and cosmetic dental services for your entire family, including kids. When you visit your family dentist at least twice a year for a dental checkup, you can get the following vital benefits:

Early Detection of Cavities and Gum Disease

Even with constant flossing and brushing, our teeth can develop cavities. Gum disease can also creep up on us with minimal warning or symptoms, eventually escalating into periodontal disease, which may result in loss of teeth. Your regular dentist can quickly identify these conditions when they are developing and nip them in the bud.

Improving Oral Hygiene

An experienced dentist can quickly tell if you are being disciplined and regular in your daily cleaning and maintenance. This is particularly important with kids – a dentist can help instill the habit of good oral hygiene at an early age, reducing the need for dental office visits in the future.

Timely Diagnosis of Oral Cancer

Unlike many other forms of cancer, oral cancer is not easily spotted. Dentists are usually the first ones to discover it. With regular visits, you can drastically improve your chances of early detection and survival, especially if you smoke or drink heavily.

If you are a resident of Plano, TX or the Dallas area, you can rely on David Wilhite, DDS for all your general dentistry, family dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry needs. Our dental offices are fully equipped and our team is dedicated to restoring healthy smiles for people in all age groups.

Choose an Award-Winning Dentist to Transform Your Smile and Restore Oral Health

As a doctor of dental surgery, David Wilhite, DDS is a highly respected dentist devoted to the cause of improving the oral health of Texans and restoring their natural smiles through cutting-edge dental procedures and technology. Dr. Wilhite has been conferred with the Mastership Award (MAGD), which is the highest honor given by the Academy of General Dentistry to dental professionals who have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to exceptional dental care.

He has also been named “Dentist of the Year” three times by the Texas AGD. Dr. Wilhite pursues extensive continuing education year after year (far beyond the mandatory requirements) in order to provide the latest and most effective dental services and solutions to his patients. To request an appointment with David Wilhite DDS, call us at (972) 964-3774 today! We’ll have you smiling again in no time!

Cosmetic Dentist Plano TX: These 3 Things That May Be Destroying Your Smile

Cosmetic Dentist Plano TX: These 3 Things That May Be Destroying Your Smile

by | Oct 1, 2021 | Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Health, General Dentistry

Smoking or Vaping

Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your health. It affects many parts of your body negatively and your mouth is no exception. Smoking is especially bad for your teeth because it can increase the level of bacteria present in your mouth, plus increase your chance of tooth decay and gum disease. Smoking causes your teeth to yellow and stain, not to mention cause halitosis. There is also a link between oral cancer and smoking.

In recent years vaping has gained popularity. As more people have taken to this new method of consuming nicotine, more studies have been done to understand the impact of vaping. Overall, these studies conclude that vaping can cause excess bacteria and gum inflammation; some may cause dry mouth and overall irritation. Vaping aerosols have been linked to DNA damage responsible for tooth decay, tooth loss, periodontal diseases, and bone loss.  Vaping, like smoking, poses serious health threats. Any cosmetic dentist Plano TX will tell you either one is awful for your smile.

Teeth Grinding And Other Mechanical Problems

By grinding your teeth, you destroy the enamel protecting them. This loss of the tooth’s natural shield against the outside world can result in tooth decay which can negatively impact your smile.

Chewing things other than food also leads to enamel loss and, ultimately, tooth decay. Often, we do these things without even realizing we are doing so, such as biting our nails or nibbling on a pen’s cap. Far from being harmless, over time, these activities can lead to broken-down enamel. Chewing ice also deserves mention since it commonly creates minor fractures on your teeth.

Other mechanical damage can come from brushing your teeth with the wrong toothbrush or doing so too hard. This leads to enamel erosion and gum irritation, and inflammation, which can result in a receding gum line. A receding gum line is not the most flattering on a smile and can lead to further complications.

Sucking your thumb as a child or constantly having other things in your mouth such as pacifiers can be very detrimental to your smile. By having foreign objects in your mouth, you may be pushing teeth out and deforming your natural smile.

Last on the mechanical issues list is using your teeth to open things or as a tool in general. Your teeth were meant to chew food, when you try to use it in any other way, you put your smile in jeopardy.

Too Much Sugar

Everyone knows that too much sugar can be the downfall of teeth, especially when it comes from sticky and chewy candy as it is more difficult to clean. Proper hygiene can prevent a lot of this damage but limiting your sugar intake is crucial to protecting your teeth.

Call Today For an Appointment With Dr. David H. Wilhite

When you need only the greatest cosmetic dentist Plano, TX has to offer, you can trust that Dr. David H. Wilhite is the go-to.

With his expertise and master craftsmanship, you will be provided with only the absolute best dental treatment you can’t find anywhere else.

Contact us at 972-964-3774 or visit our contact page to schedule an appointment.

3 Ways a Cosmetic Dentist Can Fix Crooked Teeth

3 Ways a Cosmetic Dentist Can Fix Crooked Teeth

by | Sep 13, 2021 | Cosmetic Dentistry, General Dentistry

Having straight teeth and a beautiful, white smile has become the goal of most people. Everyone wants their children to have the perfect smile. While this standard is not the same across the world, straight smiles are very coveted in the US, which is why cosmetic dentistry has advanced so much in recent years.

Braces And Crooked Teeth

In American culture, braces have become a staple of high school life. Almost a rite of passage. The teenage years are a great time to fix a crooked smile. At this younger age, the teeth are easier to move than later on in life, which leads to quicker results.

While we typically think of teenagers when we think of braces, adults, too, can benefit from cosmetic dentistry and braces. They are a very effective option for straightening teeth and improving smiles well into adulthood. 

A straight smile is not the only goal of braces.  The alignment of the teeth & the function of the bite, along with hygiene considerations are all very important when straightening teeth.

Invisalign

If traditional braces are not your style, do not worry, there is an alternative. With Invisalign, you get the same benefits, but instead of wire braces the patient wears clear aligners that slowly straighten the teeth.  Invisalign is a comfortable, barely detectable option that can achieve excellent results.

Porcelain Crowns

Porcelain crowns can be an excellent solution for slightly crooked teeth when cosmetic dentistry is your goal.  Crowns can also address the shade and shape of moderately crooked & crowded teeth while also improving the appearance of chipped or cracked teeth.

Dr. David H. Wilhite Offers The Best Cosmetic Dentistry Around

If you’re seeking an exceptionally trained cosmetic dentist in your local area, look no further than to Dr. David H. Wilhite.

Dr. Wilhite aims to provide each and every one of his clients with the perfect smile.

When you need cosmetic dentistry, call us at 972-964-3774 or visit our contact page.

Plano Cosmetic Dentist: 3 Ways You Can Fix Your Smile for Good

Plano Cosmetic Dentist: 3 Ways You Can Fix Your Smile for Good

by | Aug 30, 2021 | Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Health, General Dentistry

Everyone loves to have a bright, beautiful smile. It seems every public figure, Hollywood celebrity, and tv personality nowadays has a perfect smile, and there are good reasons for this. 

Visually, our minds perceive a healthy smile to be a beautiful smile and vice versa. Beauty and health go hand in hand. Rosy lips and white teeth signal signs of youth and wellness. Having an attractive smile tells the world that you care about your appearance as well as your health. 

So now you know why everyone instinctively wants a great smile and why you should strive for one as well. It’s not only about your looks but alo your well-being.

Of course, creating a perfect smile will require the help of a skilled dentist, especially a Plano cosmetic dentist. 

How to Get That Smile

Fortunately for those who were not born with great teeth, modern dentistry has advanced tremendously and offers a  myriad of ways to make those pearly whites shine. Ask your Plano cosmetic dentist which is best for you.

Porcelain Crowns

If you want to improve your smile and your confidence, crowns are the way to go. Crowns are typically made of porcelain, which allows you and your cosmetic dentist to pick the perfect shade. 

Crowns are stain-resistant and can protect your teeth for a very long time if you take care of them. With crowns, you can fix a gap in your teeth, change the size and shape of a tooth and improve the color or shade of a tooth.

Braces And Invisalign

Everyone knows how traditional wire braces can fix a smile but what they may not know is that Invisalign can achieve the same without much of the hassle of braces and in about half the time. Want to fix your smile for good? Ask your dentist about Invisalign.

Dental Implants

If you are missing a tooth, there are a couple of different options. These may include bridges, partials or implants.

An implant is an ideal choice for long term success.The great thing about an implant is that it replaces the root of a tooth and prevents further bone loss that typically occurs with partials and bridges. An implant will look and feel like your natural tooth. 

Give us a Call And Dr. David H. Wilhite Will Gladly Fix Your Smile

Dr. Wilhite is one of the most renowned dentists in the area and will do everything in his power to ensure you’re given the perfect smile. He is committed to continuously develop his skills in aesthetics, making him the go-to Plano cosmetic dentist.

When you want that beautiful smile, call us at 972-964-3774 or visit our contact page.

Dentist Near Frisco: Here’s How You Can Prevent Cavities

Dentist Near Frisco: Here’s How You Can Prevent Cavities

by | Jun 30, 2021 | Dental Health, General Dentistry

Nobody likes cavities; they are painful and can ruin your day in just one instant. The sensation of biting down on something and suddenly feeling a sharp jolt of pain that seems almost electric, shooting down from your tooth and into your jaw is not only awful but disconcerting, and it leaves you wondering, what was that? What do I do now? Unfortunately, by the time you notice something is amiss, it is usually too late, and your dentist has to get involved. The sounds of drills follow and you find yourself wondering why you didn’t take better care of your teeth and what you could have done to prevent this situation.

Proper Oral Hygiene

There are, however, ways to prevent this moment of pain from ever taking place. The first thing you should do to avoid cavities is to make sure you floss your teeth at least every time you eat something. It would be best if you also brushed your teeth twice a day using a soft-bristle toothbrush and proper toothpaste. Finally, you should always follow this brushing by rinsing using mouthwash.

Visit Your Dentist

It is essential to visit your dentist regularly. When you visit your dentist, you get constant care and attention to your teeth. It would be best if you aimed to have at least two dentist cleanings per year; this will help prevent plaque from building up and turning into tartar. Tartar and plaque are known agents of decay and are known to cause cavities as well as other oral concerns. By keeping the tartar and plaque at bay, you actively prevent cavities from forming.

Lifestyle Changes

Two words that are often dreaded but that can positively impact your life in general and certainly on your oral health; lifestyle changes. 

There are things you know are bad for your teeth. 

Smoking, for one, causes bacteria to proliferate in your mouth, it also causes bad breath as well as many other health concerns in the rest of your body. 

We all love getting caffeinated in the morning, but that coffee may be staining your teeth. Perhaps cutting down or at least brushing after coffee would be a good idea. 

Cutting down sugar is a tough one because sugar seems to be added to just about everything (even bread has sugar). The more sugar you cut from your diet, the better off your teeth will be. Other health benefits do arise from lower sugar consumption, but we won’t get into that.

 

Need a Dentist Near Frisco? Call Dr. David H. Wilhite

If you need a dentist near Frisco, there is no better choice than Dr. David H. Wilhite. 

Dr. Wilhite is a master of his practice and is one of the most experienced and highly qualified dentists in the Frisco area. Through his expertise and professionalism, you can rest assured knowing that your smile will be in good hands.

When you’re ready to make your teeth shine, call us at 972-964-3774 or visit our contact page.

What is the difference: Root Canal vs. Extraction

What is the difference: Root Canal vs. Extraction

by | Jan 5, 2021 | General Dentistry

Root Canal vs Extraction: wondering which is better? Both are procedures for infected teeth to prevent further tissue and damage later down the road. A root canal is a procedure that saves part of the natural tooth. Alternatively, an extraction is for times when the tooth or root is irreparable.

Dentists perform a root canal procedure when the pulp inside a tooth becomes infected or inflamed. This procedure aims to rid the tooth of bacteria, prevent further infection, and save the natural tooth. The treatment involves a dentist or endodontist making an opening in the tooth’s crown into the pulp chamber. They then use tiny instruments to remove the nerve or pulp from the chamber and canal of each root of the tooth. Finally, they restore the tooth with a crown or a permanent filling.

Types Of Tooth Extractions

The difference between a root canal vs. an extraction is that a tooth extraction occurs when a tooth or the root is beyond repair. Dentists can perform two main types of tooth extractions. The first is called a simple extraction, which involves a dentist starting by numbing the extraction area. The dentist will use an instrument called an elevator to loosen the tooth from the socket before removing it with forceps.

The second type of tooth extraction is called a surgical extraction. Dentists or oral surgeons can perform this type of extraction if a tooth is broken off at the gumline’s point or has not fully grown into the mouth yet. In this procedure, they will make a small cut into the gum to remove it. In some cases, they may need to remove bone blocking around the tooth. Likewise, they may need to cut into the tooth to extract it.

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Extraction vs. Root Canal Pain: What hurts more?

The extraction of a tooth itself is virtually painless. Dentists numb the area, and patients may only feel some pressure. After the procedure, patients can expect some amount of pain. However, the procedure removes the infected teeth. The infected teeth contain the nerve endings that sense most of the pain. A dentist essentially cuts these off at the beginning of an extraction.

The pain after an extraction depends on a few things. A dentist removes the infected teeth that contain nerve endings. Therefore, the tissues around the extracted teeth determine pain after an extraction. Depending on what the procedure requires, the degree of tissue damage can vary, which affects the amount of pain.

The severity of infection that accumulated before the procedure also influences how much pain is present after. The state in which the tissues are in can affect the healing process and pain involved. Additionally, some patients have more tissue sensitivity than others.

When considering a tooth extraction vs. root canal, keep in mind a root canal procedure causes little to no pain. Even though it can sound scary, it is similar in scale to have a deep filling performed. The mouth pain leading up to the root canal is what patients usually remember. The pain before a root canal involves the soft inside of the tooth with nerves and lymphatic tissue. Once the root canal occurs, pain is alleviated, and the feeling left is only mild to moderate pain and soreness.

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Root Canal vs. Extraction Pros and Cons

root canal vs. extraction comparison

Dentists recommend root canals and tooth extractions depending on each patient’s individual needs. Weighing each procedure’s pros and cons can be helpful when deciding with your dentist on the best option to meet your needs. Here is essential information on what to expect before, during, and after either one is performed:

Risks

  • Root Canal: There are not as many risks with a root canal. One of the main dangers is that if a dentist does not do it properly, the procedure can damage the enamel. Another risk is that an abscess can develop and spread if any infected material is left behind.
  • Extraction: An extraction leaves an empty hole in the mouth. This hole makes it possible for bacteria to grow and cause an infection. An infection can spread to other teeth quickly and start a domino of extractions that are needed. Additionally, tooth extractions can endanger surrounding teeth by causing teeth to shift within the mouth due to the new gap. If one of those teeth loosens up, other teeth tend to become loose and can even begin to fall out.

Prevention of Future Problems

  • Root Canal: Root canals are not entirely risk-free. However, going without the procedure will only cause the infected tooth to worsen. As a result, the infection can lead to an abscess or other severe conditions like oral bone degeneration. Likewise, infection can cause functional issues.
  • Extraction: Before dentists perform an extraction, they determine whether a tooth is likely to cause future problems. Having a tooth extracted can solve issues related to infection and a crowded mouth. Dentists often see a crowded mouth with patients who have wisdom teeth in the back of their mouths that are hard to care for.

Recovery

  • Root Canal: Saves part of the natural tooth. The natural tooth helps with a quicker recovery time. As a result, pain or discomfort from a root canal usually dissipates a couple of days after the procedure.
  • Extractions: Require individuals to avoid certain foods and chewing in that area to reduce the risk of infection. Tooth extractions require individuals to rest for two to three days to up to one week before returning to normal physical activity. This is to allow time for the affected area to clot.

Costs

  • Root Canal: Patients should know that root canals have high upfront costs when deciding on either an extraction or a root canal. These upfront costs may be hundreds or a few thousand dollars.
  • Tooth extractions: May only cost a few hundred initially. However, tooth extractions lead to continuing appointments and more money later down the line. For example, if a dental bridge or implant is needed.

Root canals and tooth extractions are essential options to become familiar with for anyone wondering how to fix their infected tooth. The team here at the office for David Wilhite DDS strives to provide a comfortable and relaxing dental experience for the Plano, Texas community. Whether you are interested in getting an extraction or a root canal, give us a call today at (972) 964-3774 for a happier, healthier mouth.

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