Root canal v Implant?

[mikeiow]

Evening all!
I've had a sensitive lump below a tooth for a couple of weeks.
Had an X-Ray today, & the dentist suggested it might need root canal + crown (£), OR an implant (£x2). OR leave a gap (the cheapest option!)
She didn't force any view, & I'm on antibiotics for a few days to calm it down.
Back in 2 weeks for a check, and perhaps a decision on next steps.

I'm reading root canal might have 80-95% success. Potential it could be started & it might be it has to be an implant if things aren't great
Implant can be 95-98%.
Apparently my bones are good, so the choice will be mine....& frankly I don't feel very well qualified to decide: never had any major work, just a scrape, polish & checkup for the past few decades!

Any thoughts/advice/horror stories!?

[rlg43p]

I think most dentists would try to save the tooth if they can rather than go straight to an implant.

(I could ask my son his view - he is a dentist)

[TV200]

I had a root canal (£), then a re root canal (££) and then that failed and I had it removed. My jaw bone has receded so now I need a bone brat (£££) and an implant (£££). I’m letting it all settle down, but wish I’d missed out on the re root canal at a minimum.

In short I’d defo go with a root canal, but if that fails go to the implant instead (and hope your skull doesn’t shrink!)

[mikeiow]

rlg43p said:

I think most dentists would try to save the tooth if they can rather than go straight to an implant.

(I could ask my son his view - he is a dentist)

Thanks….I asked mine, but she seemed keener for me to choose
TBH, I totally trust her - been a patient for many years - but she does generally prefer to keep a watching brief on things rather than leap into action (which is not unreasonable). Do check with your son!
Hence I’m reading up and gathering views.

& thanks too for sharing, TV200 - I feel I will likely go with the root canal+crown & take things from there.
Still time to learn more before any decisions are taken…

[Gary C]

TV200 said:

I had a root canal (£), then a re root canal (££) and then that failed and I had it removed. My jaw bone has receded so now I need a bone brat (£££) and an implant (£££). I m letting it all settle down, but wish I d missed out on the re root canal at a minimum.

In short I d defo go with a root canal, but if that fails go to the implant instead (and hope your skull doesn t shrink!)

I had an implant after a root 20 years earlier and the jawbone had receded too such that I needed a bone graft.

£5k in 2004 and two 2hr operations.

Never again.

[andyxxx]

I had two teeth done with root canals about 5 years ago
First one needed to be extracted nearly a year ago. Second one now needs to come out.
I would not have RC again.
If I don’t get used to the gaps I will consider dentures or implants

[Gary C]

andyxxx said:

I had two teeth done with root canals about 5 years ago
First one needed to be extracted nearly a year ago. Second one now needs to come out.
I would not have RC again.
If I don t get used to the gaps I will consider dentures or implants

Mine were my two front teeth (lost when someone punched me) so really had to be replaced.

[mikeiow]

Gary C said:

I had an implant after a root 20 years earlier and the jawbone had receded too such that I needed a bone graft.

£5k in 2004 and two 2hr operations.

Never again.

I’m confused which would you never have again?
The root canal?
Are you saying you wish you’d gone straight to implant?

I’ve been told (rough costs) a root canal & crown would be around 2 x 45minute visits …maybe techniques have speeded up since 2004.
Whereas an implant takes longer (hence about twice the cost), & indeed needs a couple of months between the implant and the replacement tooth.
(I’m still learning here!!)

[Composite Guru]

Most people I know that have had RTC have failed. You spend all that money having something done that has a very high chance of failing if not done correctly.
I have 2 implants and refused RTC. Implants have been in for over 5 years. Well worth the money in my opinion.

[craig1912]

I’ve got two implants (first one had some material to replace lost bone (some Swiss bovine stuff!).

One is about 20 years old and the other about seven years. Best things I have ever had done, yes there are a few months of inconvenience but worth it in the long run.

Had a couple of root canals and crowns too which both are fine. I think a lot depends on who does it and quality of materials.

Cost wise about £4000.

[mikeiow]

Composite Guru said:

Most people I know that have had RTC have failed. You spend all that money having something done that has a very high chance of failing if not done correctly.
I have 2 implants and refused RTC. Implants have been in for over 5 years. Well worth the money in my opinion.

Interesting.
Recent ones?

As I said (& also suggested by my dentist….& AI leans towards this too), I'm reading root canal might have 80-95% success.
Potential it could be started & it might be it has to be an implant if things are not found to be okay.
Implant can be 95-98% success.

I like to hope both options are improving all the time, but who knows!

[Gary C]

mikeiow said:

I m confused which would you never have again?
The root canal?
Are you saying you wish you d gone straight to implant?

I ve been told (rough costs) a root canal & crown would be around 2 x 45minute visits maybe techniques have speeded up since 2004.
Whereas an implant takes longer (hence about twice the cost), & indeed needs a couple of months between the implant and the replacement tooth.
(I m still learning here!!)

Sorry, I mean I don't ever want to have implants, though they are fantastic and would have them if it was necessary, just really really hope I never have to.

The image I saw in the reflection in the dentists safety glasses of my gums opened like a can of pickled herrings while they chiseled out some bone.

Urrgh.

But, little pain (thought i did have four injections to keep it numb) and the results were good.

I would go straight for the implant as I got an abcess in the root and had to have thr tooth extracted.

[Armitage.Shanks]

I've had a few root canals which were done by the NHS over 15yrs ago. One recently had a bit of sensitivity which I flagged on a check up and an x-ray showed a slight infection at the base of one of the roots, suggesting when the RCT was done the very end of the canal wasn't filled. It didn't really cause any pain with no visible signs and would disappear for a few months before coming back and then disappearing again. I didn't get to the point of needing antibiotics and the view was antibiotics alone would not clear it up completely.

Anyway I decided to get it sorted so discussed it with my NHS dentist. The NHS will only do a RCT then crown, they won't do re-root canal work as this is out of their remit and highly specialised. The option was either to pull the tooth or refer to a private endodontist for a re-root canal (or decide on an implant).

I got referred to a private place and saw a chap who only does re-root canal work and got the impression he travels around to provide the service. The 'consultation' was free and this guy knew his stuff. He could do it but said on this back molar there was a 75% success rate; but I thought if I'm having it done he's doing it. Cost £800 if he could do it in two sittings. He preferred to take the crown off but could try going through it and then refill but no guarantee. The NHS would cover a new crown at the top tier cost which my referring dentist would do if needed.

First visit I was in the chair for over 2hrs, wearing some type of rubber dam as he went to work with a full arsenal of equipment and tools. Two weeks later second visit same procedure and I'm in the chair for another 2hrs but he couldn't finish it so three weeks later I'm back for another hour to finish off. Three visits at a total cost of £1,000 keeping the crown intact. There was some tenderness after the first two sessions which subsided after a few days.

It wasn't particularly unpleasant, no pain during the process just lengthy. Two months on and all has settled down.

[shirt]

rlg43p said:

I think most dentists would try to save the tooth if they can rather than go straight to an implant.

(I could ask my son his view - he is a dentist)

My dentist, who is fantastic, takes this view but also tells me that’s not such a hard rule amongst his peers anymore.

If was given the choice I would have all my teeth replaced with implants

I have one done by him which replaced an old root canal and crown from 20 yrs previous. It’s a great tooth I can’t tell it’s not real.

If cost is an issue then consider your nearest dental school. My root canal was done at the one at Manchester university, fee of charge when I was a skint graduate. It took longer than strictly necessary (due to the work needing to be checked as they went along and to have the crown made) but did last a long time to their credit.

[The Leaper]

mikeiow said:

I ve been told (rough costs) a root canal & crown would be around 2 x 45minute visits maybe techniques have speeded up since 2004.
Whereas an implant takes longer (hence about twice the cost), & indeed needs a couple of months between the implant and the replacement tooth.
(I m still learning here!!)

Hi mikeiow,

My wife had 3 implants over several years at least 20 years ago. Unfortunately, two fell out last November and another in February, so she is having all three replaced. It is something of a long process.

For many years now she and I have used a dental practice that only do specialist procedures, and we are lucky that they have taken us on for normal work too. We knew it would be expensive for this latest implant work for my wife and we were given detailed estimates before work started. I reckon the total job will be around £7000. Work will be completed in January. Is the bill more painful than the remedial work, we wonder!

R.