Why Root Canals Are Better Than Implants: Saving Your Natural Smile
When a tooth becomes infected or severely damaged, you might think extraction is the only option. However, in many cases, a root canal is not only the better choice — it’s the best way to preserve your natural smile. At Eastpoint Endodontics in Lehi, Utah, we specialize in advanced root canal treatment that relieves pain, eliminates infection, and saves teeth that might otherwise need to be replaced.
Here’s why choosing a root canal over a dental implant can be the smarter, healthier option for many patients.
1. Nothing Beats Your Natural Tooth
Modern dental implants are an incredible advancement — but they’re still a replacement. No artificial tooth can fully replicate the feel, function, or appearance of your natural tooth.
A successful root canal allows you to keep your natural tooth in place, maintaining the original bone structure and bite alignment. Preserving your natural teeth helps you chew comfortably and smile confidently for years to come.
2. Root Canals Are Less Invasive
A root canal focuses on treating the inside of your existing tooth, while a dental implant requires tooth extraction, bone healing, and surgical placement of a titanium post before a crown can be added.
That means:
- Fewer procedures
- Less discomfort
- Faster recovery
In most cases, a root canal can be completed in one or two visits, while implants can take months from start to finish.
3. Root Canals Are More Affordable
Root canal treatment is typically less expensive than replacing a tooth with an implant and crown.
While both are long-term solutions, saving your natural tooth is often more cost-effective, especially when factoring in the time and additional procedures required for implants (like bone grafting or follow-up surgeries).
4. Better for Bone and Gum Health
When a tooth is extracted, the bone that once supported it begins to resorb — or shrink — over time. This can lead to changes in facial structure and affect the stability of neighboring teeth.
A root canal, on the other hand, allows your natural tooth to stay anchored in the jaw, preserving healthy bone and gum tissue naturally.
5. Root Canals Have Excellent Success Rates
Modern root canal therapy — especially when performed by an endodontic specialist — is highly successful and predictable. With today’s technology, anesthesia, and instruments like microscopes and 3D imaging, treatment is more comfortable and precise than ever.
At Eastpoint Endodontics, we routinely save teeth that patients thought were beyond repair. Most treated teeth last a lifetime with proper care.
6. Less Risk of Complications
Because root canals preserve your natural tooth and avoid surgery, they come with fewer long-term complications than implants. Implants, while reliable, can occasionally fail due to infection, bone loss, or rejection of the implant material.
When you can safely save your natural tooth, it’s almost always the best long-term decision.
When an Implant Might Be the Right Choice
There are cases where a tooth is too damaged or fractured to be saved — for example, if the crack extends below the gum line or the structure is too weak. In those situations, an implant may be necessary, and we’ll work closely with your general dentist or oral surgeon to ensure you get the best possible outcome.
However, our goal at Eastpoint Endodontics is always to save your natural tooth whenever possible — because no restoration can truly replace what nature created.
Choose Tooth Preservation First
Before deciding to remove a tooth, it’s worth consulting with an endodontic specialist. With today’s advanced techniques and technology, root canal treatment is comfortable, efficient, and highly successful — giving you the best chance to keep your natural smile for life.
Schedule Your Consultation at Eastpoint Endodontics
If you’ve been told you need a tooth extraction, get a second opinion from Eastpoint Endodontics in Lehi, Utah. Our experienced team can evaluate your tooth and determine if a root canal can save it.
Contact us today to schedule your appointment and discover why saving your natural tooth is almost always the best choice for your health and your smile.
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