One of the great things about advanced dentistry is that it brings several solutions for many oral health concerns. If you need a restorative solution due to decay in the tooth, your dentist can offer you several solutions based upon the severity of the decay. At Bridge Creek Dental, our mission is to pair our patients with the treatment that neatly addresses each dental wellness.
While cavities caught and treated early can be restored with a filling, decay that has advanced into the pulp of the tooth requires more serious intervention. Your dentist may offer one of two options: the root canal procedure with a crown or a dental implant. These two options may seem to be quite similar, and in some respects, they are. However, each does bring with it some advantages and potential disadvantages to consider.
So, should you go the root canal therapy and crown route, or is a dental implant your better option?
Considering Root Canal Therapy And A Crown
When an infection has spread into the root canals of a tooth, root canal therapy can be offered to treat the infection. The infected pulp inside the root canals will need to be removed, and the root canals will need to be sterilized. The tooth will be filled, and a temporary crown will be placed upon the tooth. A permanent crown will need to be placed on the tooth to offer it long-term protection and stability.
When you consider a tooth implant vs crown after root canal treatment, there are several advantages to root canal therapy. The primary advantage is that the root canal therapy will allow you to keep some of the tooth’s natural structure. This offers great benefits for the stability of your smile and the bone in your jaw.
While there are multiple appointments needed for this course of treatment, less time is needed in the dentist’s chair when compared to the dental implant. There are also lower costs to consider, which can be a deciding factor.
As with any procedure, there are some potential risks. Continued infection is one of the risks patients face. There is also the potential for the procedure to fail if the decay has spread beyond the tooth. Even with a crown in place, there is the risk of the remaining tooth structure sustaining damage; this could result in the need for further intervention or extraction.
There is also the possibility that your tooth is not a good candidate for root canal treatment. In this case, an extraction will be a better treatment option.
Consider Dental Implants
When considering the dental implant versus crown after root canal treatment, there is much to think about. If the tooth cannot be restored with root canal therapy or has sustained too much physical damage, it may need to be extracted. Whether the tooth has been extracted or lost through injury, the gap must be addressed. Not addressing a gap in your smile could result in the remaining teeth shifting. It can also lead to bone regression in the jaw.
Perhaps the most important advantage of the dental implant is that it serves as a permanent replacement for the lost root of the natural tooth. The titanium post used for a dental implant is biocompatible, which means that the body will not reject it once it is implanted. Once the jawbone has fused with the titanium post, it will now be a permanent part of your smile.
The crown set atop the dental implants will provide the same aesthetic benefits as what you would see with the crown used to protect the tooth after root canal therapy. The prosthetic tooth will be crafted and color-matched with your remaining natural teeth to ensure a seamless blend.
A potential disadvantage to dental implants is that they can come at a higher cost than other smile restoration solutions. Dental insurance plans most often exclude implants, meaning patients will need to pay for the entire implant and treatment out of pocket.
The process for getting dental implants is typically more extensive. Patients may be faced with as many as six months before seeing the final results.
Tooth Implants vs Crowns: Which Is Best For You?
The decision to pursue a dental implant or go the root canal therapy direction is likely to be based on several factors specific to each patient. Your dental wellness needs, the complexity of your case, and your overall preferences should be considered.
If the tooth has significant decay, the decision to opt for a dental implant can often be the better long-term solution. If your preference is to preserve your tooth, and you are aware of the potential risks of doing so, the root canal treatment and crown option may prove to be less invasive and better for the budget.