Dental Implants Increasingly Preferred for Tooth Restorations

[Cary Feuerman, DMD]

The American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID) said times have changed and patients should forego prolonged dental heroics to save failing teeth and replace them with long-lasting dental implants.

"There really is no justification for undergoing multiple endodontic or periodontic procedures, and enduring the pain and financial burden, to save a diseased tooth," said John Minichetti, DDS, speaking for the AAID. "The days are over for saving teeth till they fall out. Preserving questionable teeth is not the best option from both oral health and cosmetic perspectives."

This is certainly true in modern dental times. The question for many practitioners is "Where do you draw the line?", or "At what point do you condemn the tooth?" There is definitely a difference in opinion in this regard. Do you typically rely on your own personal judgement, or that of a specialist, or maybe both?