Comparison of a Dental Implant with Root Canal
When you need a root canal, you actually have a couple of options: you could get a dental implant or you could have a root canal. Each of these options has their own pros and cons that you need to think about before you make such an important decision. Your dentist will have specific recommendations, though for the most part they tend to feel as though you should save the natural tooth as much as possible. Here is everything that you need to know about your options.
First off, it is important to discuss the differences between these procedures. When you get a dental implant done, the dentist will extract the tooth and then there will be a series of other surgeries that need to take place afterwards to implant metal posts into the jaw. Then, a porcelain crown will be attached to those posts. This is a costly and long process. When you get a root canal, the dentist will go into the inflamed pulp to remove it. After it has been removed, the dentist will clean the inside of the tooth of the decay and filled up when it is cleaned. The final step is sealing the tooth. This typically only takes place in one visit and typically does not come with a lot of pain.
There are a few factors that will need to be considered. A person’s health will be the most important factor. If they have a specific condition like diabetes or heart disease, this will impact the treatment plan that the dentist will create. Sometimes it ends up being in the best interest of the patient to just get dental implant. If the structural integrity of the tooth is just not good, the dentist will also decide that a dental implant is going to be the best option. There is also a cost and time factor that must be considered. Dental implants are far more expensive and take many surgeries to complete, which is why some people may not feel that this is going to be the best option. Dental implants, for the most part, are longer lasting as they can often last for decades. Root canals do have the risk of breaking if you do not follow the instructions on them or if you fail to get a crown after the procedure.
In general, dentists prefer to save the natural tooth if possible because they feel as this is the best option for your health. However, they will take into consideration your own personal option and your medical history when they are making a treatment plan for your infected tooth. Whatever your decision is, these are the most effective ways to handle your dental problem. You should work very closely with the doctor and understand the benefits and disadvantages of each option before you agree to the treatment plan. It is your money and your teeth, so you really need to be an active participant in the decision making process.