“Is a tooth extraction worse than an implant?”

Honestly, you cannot compare them. For extraction, some teeth are easy to pull, some are very complicated. The same goes for the implants: some are straightforward, some require ridge/bone augmentation sinus lift, proximity to nerve...it all depends on the condition of the site. For both procedures, you will receive anesthesia.

Neither should be a problem. If you have good local anesthesia both can be done without any pain. Implants are more involved so they take a bit longer to do

I think what you are asking, is "which is typically more painful". There are a tremendous number of variables to consider to answer that question, but generally, getting an implant places is less painful than getting a tooth extracted. If the tooth is seriously loose prior to the extraction that may not be the case. If extensive bone or tissue grafting is necessary with the implant placement that might also be an exception. Typically there is only mild discomfort after implant placement, in fact, in my office, more patients complain about the knot on the stitch, when one is placed, than do about the discomfort where the implant was placed.

About the same