root canal vs extraction for braces?

I had a root canal and it wasn't bad at all! I mean painless and trust me I'm the biggest baby when it comes to the dentist! I've also had teeth extracted before I got my braces and I believe it was the 2nd molar on the top and bottom of both sides of my mouth. But it wasn't because my tooth was decayed it was because I didn't have enough room for all my teeth. But if your orthodontist says extraction then he must be able to align your teeth with the braces and not have a big whole in your mouth. As for pain after the root canal or extraction, I didn't have any for either. Also if you have insurance the prices won't be as high. Hope this helped and good luck!(:

You are lucky in that one of the biggest obstacles, money, is not going to be a problem for you. The saddest thing I see is when someone needs a tooth pulled because they cannot afford to treat the problem. Being a dentist my recommendation is to save the tooth. Why? - mechanics. Having one more tooth to allow for distribution of forces will save all of your teeth in the long run. - esthetics, or looks. You already said you would be able to see it if it was missing. If you can see it is missing others can as well. -future cost of replacement. If you lose the tooth it costs a lot more for an implant than a root canal and crown. I've had patients come in scared to death of getting a root canal. One stands out in particular: it was an older woman who had a bad experience with another root canal treatment. Somehow I convinced her to do it and she thanked me days later. That was 12 years ago and she still has the tooth and it is helping support her smile. Hope that helps