Can My Natural Teeth Be Saved?
When your tooth hurts due to an infection, you may wonder if you should get it fixed and save the tooth or replace it with a dental implant. Before you decide on the latter option, schedule a consult with our Larchmont cosmetic dentist at Eric Spellman, DMD to see if you may save your natural tooth. Though new and shiny white, an implant is something you should only consider if our dentist, Dr. Eric Spellman cannot save the tooth.
There are several options for a tooth that has decayed:
- Dentists can perform root canal treatment may if the damage is not extensive.
- The tooth may also be extracted and replaced with an implanted synthetic tooth.
- When an implant is not an option, then dentures are used. The least desired solution is extraction without replacement, leaving an empty gap in your mouth.
Benefits of Your Natural Tooth
Saving your natural tooth has several benefits that dental implants cannot offer Larchmont patients. First, your natural teeth maintain the structure of your mouth and jawbone, allowing you to chew normally.
When you repair a tooth with an implant, sometimes, the implant only partially fills the space. The empty areas between teeth can lead to bone loss. In addition, your teeth may shift around to fill the space, changing the overall position of your teeth. It may lead to a bite failure, a case known as occlusion. Not only does occlusion affect your appearance, but it also creates difficulties in chewing food. More dental treatment is required to fix these problems.
Your teeth do much more than mechanically chew food. Teeth contain nerves that send communication to the brain. These messages tell your brain how hard to chew, protecting your teeth from biting too hard. Unfortunately, implants have no nerves, so the sensory connection with the brain is lost.
Can My Tooth Be Saved?
Root canal or endodontic therapy is the most common natural tooth preservation procedure. However, when your tooth decays and develops cavities, the pulp inside your tooth can get infected. Therefore, your endodontist, Dr. Eric Spellman, will make an opening at the top of your tooth during root canal treatment to access the interior. Next, your endodontist uses specialized equipment to remove the decayed tissue; the root canals are cleaned and filled with a permanent bio-compatible material. Finally, your dentist fills the opening and installs a dental crown over your tooth for permanent protection.
At Eric Spellman, DMD, our Larchmont dentist has over 30 years of advanced training and utilizes the newest technology to provide each patient with top-level dental care. Root canal treatment ensures that the process is relatively pain-free. In addition, root canal treatments have fewer post-operative complications and failures than dental implant procedures. By choosing root canal treatment, you will continue to enjoy all the health and cosmetic benefits of keeping your natural tooth.
Our primary goal at Eric Spellman, DMD, is to offer Larchmont patients the best dental treatment for your smile needs. After a comprehensive examination, we will decide the best action for dental care for you. When possible, we strive to save your natural tooth so you can avoid potential complications of implants while offering you the best outcome for your dental health.
Schedule An Appointment with our Larchmont Dentist!
Contact our dentist in Larchmont, Dr. Eric Spellman, at 914-315-4446 to schedule a consultation to preserve your natural teeth. With over 30 years of experience, our advanced trained dentist, Eric Spellman, DMD, treats patients from Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Scarsdale, NY, and many surrounding areas.