Extraction is usually the only option for a damaged or diseased tooth. It is always preferable to save teeth rather than lose them. Before deciding whether to have your teeth pulled, consider the following options: Root canal. An infection of the pulp or nerve of a tooth requires root canal treatment. An endodontic procedure involves removing the nerve and pulp from the tooth and cleaning and sealing the inside of the tooth. Apicoectomy. If inflammation or infection persists near the end of a root following a root canal treatment, the treatment of removing the end of a root might be performed to save a tooth. A dentist performs this minimally invasive surgical treatment to see the underlying bone and remove inflamed or diseased tissue near the tooth. The root’s tip is also removed. In some instances, a filling may be applied to seal the end of the root canal, and stitches or sutures may be used to aid in tissue recovery. The bone around the root recovers over time. Because the local anaesthesia makes the dental procedure more comfortable, most patients return to their normal routine the following day. There is usually little postoperative discomfort.