Dental implants changed many
lives of patients who are missing teeth. However, due to advertisement and
misunderstanding of a treatment, some patients recognize a dental implant is
same as a natural tooth. Because a titanium implant would not get a cavity,
doesn’t mean it will stay in someone’s mouth forever.
According to research, dental
Implants have very high success rates, but it is a titanium screw. Titanium is
biocompatible, but a tooth consists of living cells that interacts with other
cells. Similar to when a broken shoulder is repaired with titanium plates and screws,
there are always limitations and possibility of another surgery. For this
reason, I usually do not recommend to have dental implants done if a natural
tooth can be restored with root canal therapy.
Furthermore, cost of a dental
implant is higher than a root canal therapy and more time consuming. In order
for a dental implant to be placed, it usually takes about 6 months to 12 months
for a treatment to be completed. On the other hand, a dentist will be able to
restore a tooth back to function with a root canal therapy and a crown in 2-3
weeks.
needs to realize placing dental implant is a surgical procedure where patient’s
health history needs to be closely evaluated prior to the surgery. For example,
placing a dental implant in a diabetic patient would have higher complication
rates than a healthy individual who does not have diabetes. On the other hand,
diabetes or other systemic diseases would less likely affect treatment outcomes
of a root canal therapy.
should not be a first choice of treatment when tooth can be saved with root canal
and a crown.
Eugene Cho, DMD
www.acecaredental.com
https://plus.google.com/105467293905938369683/#105467293905938369683/about
