Dental Implants - Making the Right Choice
A common question asked by patients today is should I save the tooth or extract and get a dental implant.
When should a patient consider saving a tooth versus extracting it? This is not an easy question to answer.
Every case is different and benefits of saving the tooth should be weigh carefully against the benefits of extraction.
Although it is difficult to predict if saving a compromised tooth will be successful long-term, here are some simple things to keep in mind when making that determination: is the tooth periodontally compromised (is there bone loss around the tooth)? Are there any previous restorations (fillings)? What is the size of the restoration (filling).
Are there other teeth present in the jaw? What is the size of the tooth root? Has the tooth had root canal treatment in the past and if so does it appear to be successful.
All these points should be examined to help in the decision making process.
The obvious choice would be to save the tooth.
However, upon closer examination the extraction of a tooth might make more financial sense.
Dental implants are considered to be the most expensive option for replacing a missing tooth.
Another disadvantage is that since dental insurance covers dental implants poorly, most of the procedure, if not all is an out of pocket expense.
Considering that when saving the tooth the patient will most likely cover about fifty percent of the cost, the total out of pocket expense is not nearly as much as it would be for a dental implant.
Saving the tooth is a good short term solution.
However, keep in mind that if the tooth, root canal treatment or the restoration fails and the tooth needs to be extracted in the future the patient will still have to come up with a full payment for the implant.
This is why paying more upfront for the dental implant will end up costing less in the future.
Dental implants have become a very successful and predictable way of replacing missing teeth.
Today we are seeing implant success rates of about 98-99 percent.
The choice of extraction or saving a tooth is a personal one and depends on many factors.
The potential for failure of a treated tooth always exists.
Extraction of a tooth and dental implant placement provides peace of mind that the implant will be functioning for a long time.
Considering the potential overall cost of both treatment options, paying more for the implant initially can save you money in the future.
Every case is different and presents different challenges.
All treatment options and potential success rates should be discussed with a dentist.
When should a patient consider saving a tooth versus extracting it? This is not an easy question to answer.
Every case is different and benefits of saving the tooth should be weigh carefully against the benefits of extraction.
Although it is difficult to predict if saving a compromised tooth will be successful long-term, here are some simple things to keep in mind when making that determination: is the tooth periodontally compromised (is there bone loss around the tooth)? Are there any previous restorations (fillings)? What is the size of the restoration (filling).
Are there other teeth present in the jaw? What is the size of the tooth root? Has the tooth had root canal treatment in the past and if so does it appear to be successful.
All these points should be examined to help in the decision making process.
The obvious choice would be to save the tooth.
However, upon closer examination the extraction of a tooth might make more financial sense.
Dental implants are considered to be the most expensive option for replacing a missing tooth.
Another disadvantage is that since dental insurance covers dental implants poorly, most of the procedure, if not all is an out of pocket expense.
Considering that when saving the tooth the patient will most likely cover about fifty percent of the cost, the total out of pocket expense is not nearly as much as it would be for a dental implant.
Saving the tooth is a good short term solution.
However, keep in mind that if the tooth, root canal treatment or the restoration fails and the tooth needs to be extracted in the future the patient will still have to come up with a full payment for the implant.
This is why paying more upfront for the dental implant will end up costing less in the future.
Dental implants have become a very successful and predictable way of replacing missing teeth.
Today we are seeing implant success rates of about 98-99 percent.
The choice of extraction or saving a tooth is a personal one and depends on many factors.
The potential for failure of a treated tooth always exists.
Extraction of a tooth and dental implant placement provides peace of mind that the implant will be functioning for a long time.
Considering the potential overall cost of both treatment options, paying more for the implant initially can save you money in the future.
Every case is different and presents different challenges.
All treatment options and potential success rates should be discussed with a dentist.