How An Implant And Root Canal Differ When Repairing An Abscessed Tooth
If you have an abscessed tooth, your dentist might recommend that you have a root canal or have the tooth pulled and replaced with an implant. You might wonder how these procedures are different since they both treat decayed and infected teeth and you often end up with a crown after either procedure. Here's an overview of each of these dental treatments and how they differ.
A Root Canal Saves Your Tooth
One reason root canals are often recommended over pulling the tooth is because the procedure can save your natural tooth. If the decay on your enamel isn't too severe, the cavity might be repaired with a filling and you can avoid the need for a crown. However, it's common to need a crown after the procedure because if the cavity is too large, your tooth can't hold onto a filling.
Your tooth has three main layers. The enamel is the part you see above the gums and dentin is the hard material underneath. Inside the dentin is the tooth pulp. This is where blood vessels and nerves are found. When you have a cavity, the pulp can become infected and lead to pain and an abscess. The root canal procedure involves drilling into the enamel and dentin to reach the pulp chamber. The pulp is then flushed and scraped out to get rid of the infection. This leaves the roots of your tooth in place. The empty pulp chambers are filled with a dental material to seal them and a filling or crown is placed on the tooth to repair the cavity. When the procedure is done, your tooth is free from infection and able to function normally again.
An Implant Replaces The Roots And Tooth
A crown only replaces the enamel portion of your tooth. When you get an implant, a small rod is inserted into your bone to act as an artificial root that stabilizes the crown. First, the infected tooth is pulled. This is one of the main differences between a root canal and implant. When you get an implant, you lose your natural tooth. However, an implant is a close alternative because it has an artificial root that keeps your bone stimulated. For that reason, an implant is probably a better option than pulling the tooth and replacing it with a partial denture or bridge.
Root canals and implants are both good options for dealing with an infected tooth. Your dentist can help you decide which is best for you. If your tooth can be saved with a root canal and filling, you may want to choose that option. However, if you need a crown anyway, an implant might be worth considering.
