When your tooth or teeth become severely damaged or infected, your dentist may present several treatment plans to help you. While tooth extraction is the most reasonable and easy option, root canals and dental implants are the two procedures best suited for this procedure. With them, you can save your tooth and restore your smile and its functionality without necessarily losing it.

Deciding between a root canal and a dental implant can be daunting since each option presents unique considerations, steps, and costs. At Ingenious Dentistry, we want to help you decide which procedure suits you best. Keep reading this post to learn more.

Understanding Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment or root canal therapy is a preventive dentistry procedure used to remove an infected or inflamed pulp. By removing it, dentists can efficiently and carefully clean and disinfect the root canal and fill and seal it to prevent reinfection.

A root canal is best for treating a severely cracked tooth, infection from a loose filling, or a deep cavity. These issues affect the pulp, which, once it becomes diseased or injured, cannot repair itself where it naturally dies. A root canal prevents the weakening and breaking down of the jawbone, which loosens and tears the ligaments around your tooth.

Root canal treatment has pros and cons that you must evaluate before choosing it. Some of its benefits include:

  • Retaining your natural tooth
  • Easing the pain arising from an inflamed or infected pulp
  • Saving your tooth and avoid gaps in the mouth

Conversely, some of the cons related to this procedure include:

  • The treatment might weaken your tooth, considering that the dentist will be drilling through your tooth to get to and remove the pulp
  • You may need to schedule multiple appointments.

Definition and Description of Dental Implants

Dental implants are artificial structures or crowns used to replace a missing tooth and mimic the natural teeth. It utilizes screw-like devices that are inserted into the jawbone to anchor the crowns. The dentist then uses an abutment to connect the crown to the implant.

This procedure offers several benefits, such as:

  • Durability
  • Preventing jawbone loss
  • Stabilizing the adjacent teeth

On the other hand, the main drawbacks and risks of dental implants include the following:

  • It takes several appointments and requires a lot of time to complete
  • It’s generally more expensive than other treatment
  • You may require a dental bone graft, which increases its timeline and cost

Dental implants can suit you if you have one or several missing teeth. However, you should have good oral health, have a full-grown and strong jawbone, avoid smoking, or be willing to commit several months to the process to be considered an ideal candidate.

Factors for Consideration in Decision-Making

At this point, you clearly understand the nitty-gritty of root canal treatment and dental implant surgery. However, you should consider the following to determine which option is best between dental implants vs. root canal crowns:

Cost Implication

The first step in choosing between these two procedures is evaluating the cost of a dental implant vs a root canal. Although dental implant surgery is the best option compared to root canal treatment, it’s more expensive.

Time

Root canal treatment takes a few appointments and requires less recovery than a dental implant. Dental implants need time to heal between the implantation and when the dentist puts the crown. This procedure may take longer if you need a bone graft to promote bone healing to recover from a severely diseased jawbone.

Tooth and Jaw Condition

Your tooth and jaw condition also significantly impacts your choice between a root canal and a dental implant. For a root canal, you at least need to have the tooth, but if it’s missing, you may need dental implant surgery since there aren’t any roots to preserve. On the other hand, you need to have a certain amount of jawbone that can accommodate the implants.

Make an Informed Decision with Help from Ingenious Dentistry

Dental implant vs root canal treatment presents a unique dilemma that needs careful consideration. At The Medical Center Group, we can help you choose which option suits your dental problem, thanks to our over 30 years of experience in and operation within Houston, TX, and its surroundings. Call us at 713-234-6696 to schedule your appointment.

IMG Credit: New Africa