Ask a Dentist? Is it Better to Save a Tooth or Get a Dental Implant?
Your teeth are incredible versatile. They can work with freezing cold ice cream, they can work with near-boiling soup. They can be damaged at any time, day or night, and they’re constantly surrounded by bacteria. Not to mention, they absorb force of up to 150 pounds per square inch. What’s more, they’re expected to work for as long as 70 years or more! When you think about it, our teeth do a pretty impressive job.
Yet, eventually these working conditions can catch up to them. They can be compromised by bone loss in your law, by decay, or by an injury. If that happens then there are generally just two main options: Save them via root canal or extract them and get a dental implant. Trying to decide on which of these options is best for you can be a challenge. That’s why California Dental Group is here to weigh in on the pros and cons of both.
Consider all the options and gather information on them both
The truth is that there isn’t one option that’s always better than the other. If you call us at (800) 407-0161 and sign up for an appointment, we can assess your unique needs and provide feedback for you specifically. Either way, we’d recommend that you get as much information as possible. We can provide info on both root canals and dental implants and are happy to steer your toward third party information, like that from the American Dental Association and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
Think about your own unique needs
Once you have all the information, you’ll need to think about your own priorities. For example, a root canal may be the best option if you have extreme pain in the area. This could feel like swelling, tender gums, or even throbbing. If you see a tooth that’s dark then you can be relatively sure that your tooth’s nerve is exposed. In any of these cases, root canal therapy may be your best option. On the other hand, dental implants, while generally a last-resort, are also longer-lasting.
Success rates for both options are about equal
One of the reasons that we can’t just recommend one over the other for every patient is that their success rates are about equal. Note that we consider success to be how long the tooth lasts after the procedure, which means that the tooth stayed in place and hasn’t needed more correction. In both dental implants and root canals, success rates are more than 98%.
When it comes down to it, it’s really your decision. However, before you can decide what’s best, you’ll need a dentist to assess your oral health and give you details about your particular outcomes. Call California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 for more information.
