I have some teeth which are giving me problems. A couple of them had old fillings that needed to be replaced. I also had a couple of teeth bothering me. My dentist wants to replace the fillings and get a root canal treatment and crowns on the two teeth that were bothering me. Is it better to just take the teeth out and replace them with a dental implant? I have several friends whose root canal treatments have failed.
Evan
Dear Evan,
You’ve got to bear in mind that I have not examined you, so the best I can do is give you general advice here. When a tooth has extensive damage, many patients assume it needs to come out. That’s not always the case. Sometimes a crown can save it. Or maybe, because of infection, it needs a root canal treatment with the crown. Your question about whether a dental implant might last longer is an interesting one. The truth is that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer.
Ideally, you’d want to save as much natural tooth structure as possible when it is healthy enough to be saved A successful root canal removes the infected pulp while allowing you to keep the tooth you’ve had your entire life. The crown is placed over the tooth to protect it. In many cases, that root canal treatment does just fine and you can go the rest of your life with the tooth as is.
You are correct, however, that there are times a root canal treatment can fail. It is more common with molars where their are more canals, some of which can be hidden. However, it isn’t more common to have a failure than it is to have a successful case.
That being said, there are situations where a tooth simply cannot be restored. A severe fracture, extensive decay below the gumline, advanced tooth infection, or repeated treatment failures may make extraction the better long-term choice. In that case, then a dental implant will be an excellent solution.
Why Are Dental Implants Considered the Best Tooth Replacement?
When a tooth must be removed, replacing it is important. Leaving an empty space allows neighboring teeth to shift or tip into the empty space, which changes your bite. Plus, over time, you will lose bone structure in your jaw. Dental implants replace both the root and the visible portion (crown) of your tooth. They are the closest thing to have a healthy, natural smile again.
Benefits of dental implants include:
- A stable, natural-looking replacement tooth
- Excellent long-term durability
- Preservation of jawbone health
- No need to alter neighboring healthy teeth
- Comfortable chewing and speaking because they’re anchored to your jawbone
Root Canal or Implant?
Patients often ask which option lasts longer. While implants have an outstanding success rate, that doesn’t automatically mean they’re the best first choice. If a natural tooth has a good chance of long-term success, preserving it is often the most conservative treatment.
On the other hand, if the tooth has been compromised beyond repair, then placing a dental implant may provide the most predictable long-term outcome. The right decision depends on factors such as the amount of remaining tooth structure, the health of the surrounding bone, your bite, your overall health, and your long-term goals.
In your situation, unless there are some of the extenuating factors I brought up, I’d do the root canal. But, again, I’m basing that just on what you’ve noted here. There may be some things I am unaware of.
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