If i have had a root canal in my lower back molar tooth, does that mean the extraction will be "surgery?"

Extraction: All tooth extractions are considered oral surgery.

Most likely: Its quite possible that you will require a surgical extraction should the tooth require extraction at a future date. This is not an uncommon experience, and it is due to the fact that the tooth becomes increasingly brittle following endodontic therpay.

Not necessarily: Root canals do take the nerve and blood supply from tooth thus why crowns are needed after a root canal. If a root canal tooth needs extractions in the future, then the tooth is brittle and the chance of a surgery to extract the tooth is more likely but not a guarantee. Just depends on severity of infection, fracture of tooth, and skill of surgeon.

Not exactly: Surgery after a root canal is called an apicoectomy where the tip of the tooth thats infected is amputated. It preserves the chewing part of the tooth but surgically removed the infected part. It works well when there is a small infection at one or more of the root tips.

Not necessarily: Possibly depends on how much tooth remains for the dentist to hold on to to extract the tooth sometimes one has to section the tooth to remove it.