Posted: 01/22/09
When facing dental pain, quick relief is often given a higher priority than long-term sustainability. However, new research suggests careful initial consultation with your dentist or oral surgeon would minimize the amount of required follow-up care. Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham found that treating advanced decay with dental implants required significantly more follow-up treatment than root canals. It is therefore suggested that every effort should be made to preserve natural teeth before resorting to implants - the best option for the patient as well as the dental coverage plan provider.
While root canals and implants have roughly the same success rate, dental implants required significantly more intervention (post-operative complications and higher long-term failure rates) following the procedure than did root canals (12.4% vs. 1.4%).
Additionally, oral health and tooth loss may be linked with serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and even certain types of cancer, which means an individual health insurance provider is even more interested in the outcome.
What's the difference between a root canal and implants? In a root canal the inflamed pulp is removed, the inside of the tooth is cleaned, filled and sealed, and the tooth is capped. Implants require tooth extraction, and a metal post is then inserted in the jaw and covered with a porcelain crown. Dentists can determine what's best for each individual. Dental coverage plans generally pay for as least some of both procedures.
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