When you’re dealing with tooth pain, you’ll probably hear about two main options: a root canal or an extraction. Each one comes with its own set of costs and benefits, and honestly, it’s not always a straightforward choice.
Root canals usually run between $700-$1,500, while extractions are often $150-$300. But, it’s not just about that upfront bill. Root canals let you keep your natural tooth and keep things working the way they should when you chew. Extractions, though cheaper at first, might mean you’ll pay more later for things like implants or bridges if you want to fill that gap.
What’s right for you depends on how much damage your tooth has, your budget, and what you want for your long-term oral health. Knowing the details helps you make a decision that fits your needs—and your wallet.
Key Differences Between Root Canal and Extraction
Root canals and extractions tackle damaged or infected teeth in totally different ways. Each one brings its own pros, cons, and recovery stories. It’s worth digging into how they work before you decide.
How Root Canal Procedures Work
With a root canal, your dentist tries to save your tooth by getting rid of the infected pulp inside. They’ll make a tiny hole in the top of your tooth, then use special tools to clean out all the bad stuff from the canals. Once they’ve cleaned things up, they shape and disinfect the canals. After that, they fill those spaces with a rubbery material called gutta-percha to keep future infections out.
Most of the time, you’ll get a permanent filling or a crown to finish things off. That way, your tooth works and looks normal again, and it’s protected from more damage. Thanks to modern techniques, root canals aren’t the nightmare people fear. You’ll get local anesthesia, and honestly, most folks say it feels a lot like getting a regular filling.
What to Expect from a Tooth Extraction
Extraction is a bit more direct—they just take the tooth out. Your dentist will numb the area first so you won’t feel pain. If it’s a simple case (like a tooth that’s easy to see), they’ll loosen it with an elevator tool and pull it with forceps. For tougher cases, like impacted teeth, they might have to make a small cut in your gum.
After the tooth’s out, a blood clot forms in the socket. Sometimes, your dentist will put in a stitch or two. You’ll probably spend about a week recovering, and you’ll get a list of aftercare tips to help things heal.
Post-extraction care usually means:
- Biting down on gauze to stop bleeding
- Taking any pain meds your dentist gives you
- Using ice packs to keep swelling down
- Staying away from smoking and straws
- Sticking to soft foods for a bit
Comparing Treatment Timelines
Root canals often need one or two visits. The first session covers cleaning and shaping, which takes about an hour or so. If you need a crown, you’ll come back for that.
Extractions are usually quicker—sometimes just 20-40 minutes if it’s straightforward. Surgical extractions, though, can take longer.
Recovery time’s a different story for each:
|
Procedure
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Initial Recovery
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Complete Healing
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Return to Normal Activities
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Root Canal
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24-48 hours
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1 week
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Usually next day
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|
Extraction
|
2-3 days
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1-2 weeks
|
2-3 days
|
With a root canal, you’re back to your routine pretty fast and usually don’t feel too sore. Extractions, on the other hand, can leave you a bit more uncomfortable and take longer to bounce back from.
Root canal treatment cost in Singapore varies depending on the clinic and tooth involved. Public clinics are generally more affordable, with front teeth procedures ranging from S$300–600, premolars from S$400–700, and molars from S$500–1,200. Private clinics tend to charge more, typically between S$800–1,500, depending on the complexity and whether a specialist is involved.
While tooth extractions are cheaper—around S$80–250—replacing the tooth later with an implant (S$3,000–5,000) can be much costlier. Medisave can be used to offset costs, allowing claims of up to S$950 for eligible surgical dental procedures.
Costs and Benefits of Root Canal Versus Tooth Extraction
Short-Term and Long-Term Financial Considerations
Root canals usually cost between $700-$1,500, depending on which tooth needs work. Molars are pricier because they’re tougher to treat. If you’ve got dental insurance, it’ll probably cover 50-80% of that, so you might not pay the whole amount yourself.
Extractions seem cheaper at first—$150-$300 for a basic one. But if you want to fill that gap later, the costs can really add up.
Dental implants run $3,000-$4,500 per tooth. Bridges cost $2,000-$3,000, and partial dentures come in around $1,000-$2,000.
Here’s a 10-year cost comparison:
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Procedure
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Initial Cost
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Additional Costs
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Total 10-Year Cost
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Root Canal
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$700-$1,500
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Crown: $800-$1,500
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$1,500-$3,000
|
|
Extraction + Implant
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$150-$300
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Implant: $3,000-$4,500
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$3,150-$4,800
|
Impacts on Oral Health
Root canals help you keep your own teeth, so you don’t lose your natural bite or sensation. That stability keeps your other teeth from drifting and stops bone loss in your jaw. The dentist removes the infection but leaves the tooth in place, which keeps your face looking the same and your other teeth where they belong.
Extractions get rid of the infection by taking out the whole tooth, but then you’re left with a gap. Over time, your other teeth might shift, which can mess up your bite and make chewing harder. Bone starts shrinking in the spot where the tooth was—sometimes as much as 25% in the first year. That can change your appearance and make future fixes more complicated.
Recovery and Aftercare Requirements
Root canal recovery usually means just a bit of soreness for a day or two—maybe up to three. Most people get back to their routines the next day, and over-the-counter painkillers pretty much do the trick. You don’t have to follow any complicated aftercare steps; just stick with your normal brushing and flossing, and keep seeing your dentist as usual. Usually, you’ll need to come back in a week or two to get a crown placed.
Extraction, on the other hand, takes more time to heal—think a week or so, sometimes a little longer. The first couple of days matter most because you’ve got to protect that blood clot in the socket.
Skip straws, smoking, and spitting—honestly, anything that could mess with the clot and cause a dry socket (which, unfortunately, isn’t that rare). Stick to soft foods for a few days, and you’ll need to clean around the area a bit differently for about a week. Full healing of the socket drags out for months—anywhere from three to six, especially if your dentist does bone grafting to get things ready for an implant.