Dental Implants or Root Canal Treatment-The Restorative Advantage

A fundamental principle in traditional dental practice has been the preservation and rehabilitation of natural teeth. Endodontic treatment procedures have played a key role in this context in the retention and restoration to function of teeth affected by pulp and/or periapical pathosis..The extraction of hopeless teeth is considered as the last resort due to limited restorative options or financial constraints.With the emerging field of implant dentistry gaining fast acceptance, the prevailing opinions on treatment planning for diseased teeth are changing. Many practitioners consider the single-tooth implant as a reasonable alternative to the preservation of the natural dentition. Consequently, today’s practitioner is faced with a fundamental dilemma, should a tooth be retained through nonsurgical endodontic treatment or should it be extracted and replaced with an singletooth implant? This paper Reviews the factors influencing the treatment planning and decision making between both these viable treatment options and identifies key issues that need careful consideration in planning the most appropriate course of care in a given clinical situation.