Today, we have more options than ever before for restoring teeth. Implants are so successful that many argue for removing teeth with large carious lesions rather than treating them endodontically. Teeth that are fractured at the gum line and missing coronal structures can be difficult to restore.
There are four common ways to restore this type of situation:1
- Extraction and implant
- Extraction and bridge
- Crown lengthening then crown
- Forced extrusion and crown restoration
Everyday, dentists are faced with the challenge of deciding whether to restore a tooth or remove it in favor of restoring the space with an implant restoration, a bridge or a partial. When looking at the more decayed teeth, the choice seems obvious. When adjunctive procedures such as crown lengthening will be necessary, the scales start to tip in favor of removal. Longevity and esthetics figure prominently in this decision.2
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