Root Canal vs Dental Implant

Sugar House root canals vs tooth implants

During endodontic treatment at The  Sugar House Dentist in Salt Lake City, the nerve and pulp of an affected tooth are taken out. The procedure is commonly known as a root canal.

This removed tissue contains veins, arteries, and lymph vessels. We use files of various sizes to clean out the canals. Once the roots are cleaned out and widened, they are filled with a special rubber material that seals them off.

The root canal procedure is only the first step in the complete tooth restoration. After the root canal, without a crown, the tooth will probably become dry and brittle. The final steps are the core build-up and crown placement. This protects what’s left of the tooth and allows normal function.

A root canal is the most conservative treatment when a root is infected or a tooth has acute decay or damage. Root canals have been performed with success for generations and have a very low failure rate.

But there is always a possibility, however slight, that a tooth with a root canal can have complications down the road. If there was a tiny crack in the treated tooth, it can become re-infected. A tooth with curved roots are harder to fill and they can also become re-infected. Occasionally, the tip of a file can break off in a root during the procedure and cause problems.

Because of the small risk of failure, some people wonder if they should consider a dental implant instead of a root canal. This is not a black and white decision. Like root canals, dental implants have a high success rate. But there are risks with dental implants, as well.

If you have been told that a root canal or a dental implant is necessary, talk with us at The Sugar House Dentist in Salt Lake City about the pros and cons of each procedure. Dental implants are among our specialties.

Contact The Sugar House Dentist:

801-618-0197

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1955 S 1300 E Ste L2
Salt Lake City, Utah
84105

 

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