Do You Need Dental Implants After a Root Canal?

Dealing with tooth problems can be a big issue for everyone. And if you have recently had to pull a tooth, you surely will be writhing in a lot of pain. The good part is that it doesn’t have to end with you losing a tooth, as there are safe dental procedures that can help attend to pressing issues with you losing one of your precious white-mouth swords. But if you are wondering if you do need dental implants after a root canal, you will find a lot of value in the section below.

Difference Between Dental Implants and Root Canals

A root canal or dental implant is usually prescribed for people dealing with tooth decay or experiencing serious pain deep down in their dental region. But most people don’t understand the difference between both procedures and which one they should opt for to better their situation.

Below is a detailed explanation of both dental procedures for a better understanding.

1. Dental Implants

This is a piece of surgical material that resembles a screw placed between the jaw bone to help replace a missing tooth root. The main aim is to act as a support for an original dental formation. They are designed just like a natural tooth. It ideally has two main parts, the root which is buried securely underneath the gum, and a crown that sits above the gum.

The procedure is considered a simple technique as it can be done quickly by an expert dental surgeon. This link has more on tooth implants if you need additional information.

Benefits

There are many reasons why most people will opt for cosmetic dental implants and why your dentist may suggest that you consider one. Some of them include

• You get a dentition with great aesthetics compared to when you remove the tooth leaving the space empty.
• You get a high level of functionality that can be likened to your original tooth. So you won’t feel like you even underwent a procedure after recovery.
• Implants are known to last a long time as they are durable and effective at replacing normal dental functions. With expert fixing and detailed care, you can have implants that last decades without taking them out.

Demerits

While they do offer a lot of merits for fixing a space in the mouth, some of the downsides you want to consider when making the decision of which procedure is best for you include

• The process of getting a dental implant is an extensive one as you will have to first take out the natural tooth that is giving you the issue and wait for the gum to heal before fixing the implant. This can be a whole lot for you to deal with.
• The recovery period is usually long and can include different treatment stages that may be a lot to deal with for an impatient patient.
• The general cost of the procedure is expensive and you will likely not be getting assistance from your insurance provider to cover the cost. So you want to make sure that you have enough saved before you begin.

Root Canals

This dental procedure aims to treat an infection at the center of the tooth. The aim is to prevent infection of the tooth and further decay of the salvaged dentition. It is less painful compared to implants but you will need to be under local anesthesia throughout the procedure. Decay in the pulp which is the soft innermost part of the tooth will need to be removed to preserve its normal structure.

Benefits

There are many ways where a root canal outshines an implant, but still, you will need to speak with your dentist to be sure which procedure is best for your case. One of the upsides to opting for a root canal is that

• You get to keep your original tooth as only a section of the inner part is removed so you won’t have to move around with a hole. But implants aim to close an open space in your dentition.
• The process is not as painful as other dental procedures. This is because there won’t be a need to pull out the tooth-like in an implant which could send your head spinning for a couple of days. Still, you will need heavy pain killers for the pulp to be removed.
• The treatment takes less time as you will only need to meet a few times with your dentist before your final appointment to take out the pulp.
• You also won’t be spending as much when you opt for this procedure compared to when you go for implants.

Demerits

Although it may seem like a cost-effective method of dealing with a tooth problem, some reasons why most people may not be looking into this dental solution includes

• It could be risky trying to work around a damaged tooth as it could lead to more complications. In the end, you may have to opt for an implant after undergoing the procedure.
• In a situation where all the pulp is not properly removed and you still get remnants left, you could end up losing the tooth you tried desperately hard to save.
• You could also be spending a lot of your hard-earned money if the procedure isn’t covered by your insurance.

Do You Need Dental Implants After a Root Canal?

Ideally, you won’t need to if the job or fixing the root canal was carried out properly by a highly trained dentist. The inner section of the tooth where the damaged pulp lies will need to be completely removed to avoid any abscess building up after the procedure. According to experts, if the endodontist doesn’t do a fine job and you do end up with pus, later on, there is a good chance you will lose the tooth in which case you will have to go for an implant to cover the space.

 

So dental implants may not be needed if the root canal procedure was properly done. The best thing is to consult widely with dental experts when it comes to solving tooth problems. You should not be interested in the cost-effective option but go for the one with the best solution. You will need to carry out a series of x-rays to detect the level of damage so the dentist can get a better understanding of the state of the tooth. This will make it easier to conclude on the best line of action.