Dr. Allyson Hurley's Blog

Hi. I’ve got a tooth that is badly decayed. How do you know when to remove it and get an implant, or just do a root canal and a crown. My dentist wants to do an implant, but I would rather keep my tooth.

Thanks, John

John,

I’m sorry about your tooth. My feeling is it would depend on how decayed the tooth is. If the tooth can be saved, that is almost always the best option, and yes, you could do a root canal/crown. If, however, it is very badly decayed, then saving it isn’t an option, and an implant or a dental bridge would be good options. For that to be the case the decay would have to go all the way through the tooth to the underside. Other than that, I think your tooth could be saved. Perhaps it would be a good idea to get a second opinion.

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I have missing lateral incisors. I had read that doing orthodontics and dental implants is the best option to replace the missing teeth, but my dentist says he can make canines look like lateral incisors with Lumineers. Will that look normal? I know it’s cheaper, but I don’t want to end up looking weird.

Thanks-Cathey R.

Dear Cathey,

I would be very hesitant to agree with a Lumineers course of treatment. What your dentist is suggesting is extremely difficult to accomplish and it look beautiful. While it is possible if you went to the top cosmetic dentist in the country they could probably do it, I’m guessing they would suggest you use dental implants. They are the closest thing you can get to a natural tooth. Although they are an advanced dental procedure, it is much easier to get gorgeous results. You can learn more about dental implants by visiting our website.

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