When decay or infection reaches the pulp — the living tissue inside a tooth — there are two realistic routes. Root canal treatment removes the infected tissue and keeps the tooth. Extraction removes the tooth entirely.
Patients often assume the choice is about pain or price. It is mostly about how much sound tooth structure is left.
What each treatment involves
Root canal treatment cleans out the infected pulp, disinfects the canals and seals them. The tooth stays in place and continues to function. At Smart Care this is AED 599 per tooth, and a crown is often recommended afterwards to protect a tooth that has been hollowed out — quoted separately so you can decide with the full picture.
Extraction removes the tooth under local anaesthetic, at AED 199 per tooth. It resolves the immediate problem, but it leaves a gap that has consequences: neighbouring teeth drift, the opposing tooth over-erupts, and the bone in that area gradually resorbs.
What actually decides it
The dentist is weighing several things at once, and an X-ray usually settles most of them.
- How much healthy tooth structure remains above the gumline
- Whether the root is fractured — a vertical root fracture generally ends the discussion
- The state of the supporting bone
- Whether the tooth can be restored predictably afterwards
- Your overall dental health and what else is planned
The cost people forget
Extraction is cheaper on the day and more expensive over a decade. Replacing a missing tooth with a bridge or an implant costs considerably more than saving it did, and doing nothing has its own price in drifting teeth and altered bite.
That is not an argument for saving every tooth regardless. It is an argument for comparing the whole path rather than the single appointment.
Does a root canal hurt?
The reputation is largely inherited from decades-old technique. The procedure is done under local anaesthetic, and for most people the pain that brought them in is worse than the treatment that resolves it. Some tenderness afterwards for a few days is normal.
Common questions
Is it better to save a tooth or extract it?
Where the tooth can be restored predictably, saving it is almost always the better long-term outcome — a natural tooth preserves bone and bite in a way no replacement fully matches. Where the root is fractured or too little structure remains, extraction is the honest recommendation.
How much is a root canal in Dubai?
At Smart Care Polyclinic in Deira, root canal treatment is AED 599 per tooth. A crown afterwards is often recommended and is quoted separately.
Do I need a crown after a root canal?
Often, particularly on back teeth. A treated tooth has been hollowed out and is more prone to fracture; a crown protects it. Your dentist will explain whether it is needed in your case.
This article is general health information, not medical advice, and does not replace a consultation. Care at Smart Care Polyclinic is provided by DHA-licensed clinicians.