Choosing Between Root Canal Therapy and Dental Implants

When you have a tooth that needs dental work, but you have the choice between a root canal and replacing the damaged tooth with a dental implant, it may be hard to choose. Both procedures improve oral health and include restorations that can be color-matched to blend with your natural smile. However, it’s important to keep in mind that not everyone who needs root canal therapy qualifies for a dental implant and some patients may not be able to save severely damaged teeth with a root canal.
Consider the following features of both procedures.

Root Canal Therapy: A patient needs root canal therapy if their tooth has become infected due to advanced decay. This procedure removes infected tooth pulp and involves capping the tooth with a crown for improved function and aesthetics. There are many options for crown materials and some of them look more natural than others, but most materials in modern dentistry have the potential to last for years with the proper care.

Root canals save as much natural tooth as possible, and are typically conducted by endodontists who are trained to perform root canals and are experienced to eliminate discomfort and reduce chances of re-infection.

Dental Implants: If tooth has been compromised by infection, it’s sometimes necessary to extract the entire tooth and provide a replacement. In these instances, a single-tooth implant is an option. During extraction and implant placement, the whole tooth and root are removed and an implant is placed into your jaw bone. Implants are designed to fuse with the bone in your jaw over time and become a whole replacement for a lost tooth. A dental restoration is placed on top of the implant post and is designed to fit perfectly with surrounding teeth. Modern materials permit a similar aesthetic and strength to natural teeth.

The dental implant itself takes some time to officially fuse to your jaw bone and become as strong as possible. To ensure the health and continued integrity of your implant, follow-up examinations are required.

The benefits of dental implants include:
• Strong, natural looking restoration
• Replaces entire tooth
• Long-lasting
• In the event of damage, only the top prosthetic needs to be swapped out

Contact Lorton Springfield Dental Implants & Oral Surgery 
For your dental implant or root canal therapy needs, please visit our dentists at Lorton- Springfield Dental Implant and Oral Surgery. Call us for a consultation and find out which dental treatment is best for you.