Sometimes Tooth Not Worth Saving

How many of you have undergone dental procedures to save a tooth only to have to have it pulled in the end anyway? Once you’ve taken into account the financial cost, in addition to the discomfort factor, was it worth it? Some dentists are starting to say “no.”

It made sense years ago to do everything you could to save your tooth. If you didn’t, you could end up with dentures or partial plates, or just leave the place empty, which can lead to other problems as your jaw copes with the missing teeth. But, the science of dentistry has advanced to the point that this may not be necessary any more. So now, the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID) has come out on the side of implants that have high rates of success as a first line of treatment, rather than a last-chance response.

A press release issued by the AAID says,

“There really is no justification for undergoing multiple endodontic or periodontic procedures, and enduring the pain and financial burden, to save a diseased tooth,” said John Minichetti, DDS, speaking for the AAID. “The days are over for saving teeth till they fall out. Preserving questionable teeth is not the best option from both oral health and cosmetic perspectives.”

The association points out that a recent study pointed out that single-tooth implants are 98.5% successful at the 7-year follow-up point, while other studies have found that first-time root canals have a 95% success rate, although the rate drops if they need to be repeated.

In the interest of full disclosure, my husband is considering a dental implant for a front tooth so we’ve been looking at the pros and cons of the procedure. The biggest con is the cost and many dental insurance plans don’t cover implants, while they do cover partial plates or bridges.

Of course, when it comes to press releases like this one (Why Save Bad Teeth? Dental ‘Heroics’ Unnecessary and Failure Prone), we have to look at where this information is coming from. The AADI’s mission is to promote awareness of dental implants. That’s not to say they are wrong, but it’s important to keep this in mind.

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Image: PhotoXpress.com