A study in the November issue of the Journal of Endodontics claims that dental implants require much more follow-up treatment than root canals, according to a study by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Their study results reported that the success rate for the dental implants was 98.4 percent; for root canals it was 99.3 percent. However, 12.4 percent of the dental implants required additional interventions, compared with 1.4 percent of the root canals.
“Considering these results in light of the growing body of evidence on the impact of oral health on overall health, it is imperative for dental professionals to partner with endodontists who have advanced training in examining whether a natural tooth can be saved through root canal treatment,” said Dr. Louis Rossman, an endodontist and president of the American Association of Endodontists.