Tooth Decay: Surgery
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Surgery
You may need surgery if tooth decay has damaged the pulp and the tooth.
Surgery Choices
- In extraction, your dentist removes the decayed tooth.
- In root canal treatment, your dentist removes the pulp from the center of a tooth and fills the pulp cavity.
What To Think About
After removing your tooth, your dentist will replace it with a bridge 
or an implant.
If your tooth is severely damaged, it may be easier and may cost less to remove the tooth than to have a root canal treatment. If you have root canal treatment, you will need a crown.
Dental surgery can cause bacteria in the mouth to enter the bloodstream and cause infections in other parts of the body. People who have a difficult time fighting off infections may need to take antibiotics before and after dental surgery. Such people include those who have artificial heart valves or were born with heart defects.
| Last updated: | July 30, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Jeannette Curtis |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Arden Christen, DDS, MSD, MA, FACD - Dentistry |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC |
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