Dental implants have become a viable choice in the past few decades when it comes to the matter of how to deal with a compromised tooth. However, there are many factors involved in evaluating whether implants or endodontic treatments such as a root canal could be the most effective treatment for a patient – both in terms of cost and oral health. Dr. Allen of the Phoenix Endodontic Group explained some of the variables that can impact the costs of both types of treatment.
- Factors particular to each individual case – Proper case selection for a root canal or dental implant is essential. A patient’s overall health influences the outcome of dental procedures. Diabetes and other systemic conditions can make a root canal or implant more challenging, and thus, more costly. Dr. Allen explained that the American Association of Endodontists considers both root canals and dental implants to be effective means to treat an infected tooth, but recommends that whatever treatment is selected, it should be safe, aligned with the patient’s wishes, and preserve the natural tooth whenever possible.
- Durability – Both root canals and dental implants have success rates above 90 percent, which means that what is fixed, stays fixed, for a very long time. In both cases, the success of the procedure is heavily influenced by how well the patient follows post-operative instructions in the short term and how well they comply with daily oral health activities in the long term.
- Patient’s commitment to the full treatment – Both dental implants and root canals can require multiple appointments and treatment steps to resolve the issue. Stopping in the middle can lead to reinfection of the tooth, or problems with finalizing the restoration. Implants require a healing period between the placement of the implant in the jaw and the final crown on top; root canals can require the placement of a crown on top of the tooth to protect it from further decay and damage.
Both dental implants and root canal treatments are useful when dealing with an infected tooth,” says Dr. Allen. “Endodontic treatment is often the least invasive, least time-consuming and least costly way to preserve your natural teeth.”