Should you save your natural tooth or replace it with a dental implant? Learn what patients should consider, including tooth restorability, cracks, bone and gum health, root canal treatment, long-term maintenance, and overall prognosis. Dr Deval Mehta™ explains why careful diagnosis is essential before choosing between saving a natural tooth and a dental implant.

Can a root canal tooth get infected again even months or years after treatment? Although root canal treatment is designed to remove infection and preserve the natural tooth, reinfection can sometimes occur because of complex canal anatomy, new decay, leakage around a restoration, cracks, or other dental problems.

A cracked tooth can cause sharp pain when biting, sensitivity to hot or cold, or discomfort that comes and goes. But does a crack always mean the tooth needs to be removed? Learn the common signs of a cracked tooth, available cracked tooth treatment options, when root canal treatment may be needed, and how timely dental care may help save your natural tooth.