Which option is best among root canal treatment and dental implants?

[Shahin Safarian]

Root canals are as effective as dental implants but dentists mostly emphasis on saving a natural teeth before going for extraction and replacement with an implant. They both serve unique purpose. Dental implants replace missing and damaged teeth following different surgeries by inserting metal post in the jaw and affixing a crown to the post. The replaced teeth works and looks like natural teeth. On the other hand root canal treatment helps in treating sensitive teeth, teeth pain and oral irritations. The damaged or innermost part of the teeth is removed, and replaced with specific materials to save the natural teeth. The extent to which one’s teeth are damaged depicts the most appropriate treatment option.

Root Canal Treatment Procedure

1. After thorough oral examination, an appointment is being set for root canal treatment.
2. On the day of treatment, gum area is made insensitive with numbing gel and then teeth, tongue and skin are numbed with local anesthetic.
3. The damaged tooth is then separated from the other tooth with small rubber sheet on metal frame. This also halts the entrance of liquid and tooth chips from entering to mouth and throat.
4. The pulp is then removed from the tooth with drill and other tools. This is followed by filling gum line with medicines, temporary filling materials and then with a final root canal filling.
5. Crown (a permanent filling) or capping is often required after root canal. An impression of tooth is taken to make a crown that perfectly matches the drilled tooth.
6. In some cases a temporary crown may be fitted to the drilled tooth until a permanent crown is made and cemented into the place.

Implants Procedure

1. X-ray examination and CT scan is done to determine the position and angle to place the titanium implants.
2. Gum flap is raised and a hole is drilled into jawbone at the pre-defined position and angle. Dental implants are then inserted into the hole and gum flap is closed with sutures.
3. Jaw bone unites with dental implants in 3-6 months. Once it gets united the second stage of surgery is started i.e. removing a small piece of gum wrapping the dental implant is removed and a healing component is inserted onto implants. This helps gums to heal in a healthier shape around the dental implants.
4. The healing component is replaced by an impression component when gums surrounding the implant will heal-up. The impression of dental arches is then taken to know the position and angle of the dental implants.
5. False teeth are then fabricated in dental labs.
6. Lastly the false tooth is fixed onto the dental implant.

Which option to go with?

When a dentist feels that the tooth can be salvaged by restoration process then root canal treatment is followed while on the other hand when there seems no hope of restoration then dental implants is the last option left.

Root canal and dental implants are quite unique in their purposes and procedures. In root canal treatment, teeth is saved from extraction and in dental implants, an extracted tooth is replaced with false tooth. Both procedures are equally important and cannot be compared to each other. They both have almost equal success rate. Both have same goal i.e. to preserve the dentition.