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Featuring consumer information from Columbia School of Dental & Oral Surgery
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Oral Health Made Simple: Your Prescription For Knowledge
 PREVENT PROBLEMS
Small BoxAll About Cavities
Small BoxBrushing and Flossing
Small BoxFluoride
Small BoxMouth-Healthy Eating
Small BoxSealants
Small BoxTaking Care of Your Teeth
Small BoxTobacco
Small BoxYour Dental Visit
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 CONDITIONS
Small BoxBad Breath
Small BoxCavities
Small BoxCold Sores
Small BoxDry Mouth
Small BoxImpacted Tooth
Small BoxSensitive Teeth
Small BoxTMJ
Small BoxTooth Discoloration
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 TREATMENTS
Small BoxCrowns
Small BoxDentures
Small BoxFillings: The Basics
Small BoxGum Surgery
Small BoxImplants
Small BoxRoot Canal Treatment
Small BoxScaling and Root Planing
Small BoxWhitening
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 GENERAL TOPICS
Small BoxControlling Pain
Small BoxCosmetic Dentistry
Small BoxEmergencies
Small BoxFill, Repair, Replace
Small BoxKids And Teens
Small BoxOral Health and Your Body
Small BoxOrthodontics
Small BoxPeriodontics
Small BoxSeniors
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Step 1 Prevent ProblemsSimplestepsPrevent Problems
Step 2 Understand ConditionsSimplestepsUnderstand Conditions
Step 3 Explore TreatmentsSimplestepsExplore Treatments

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Q: I am a 56-year-old woman with a problem in an upper tooth. The root of the tooth has died. During the root canal, a crack in the tooth was discovered. The tooth will need to be extracted. I have all my other teeth. I am trying to decide what to do (nothing, get bridge or get an implant). What things should I look at in making this decision?
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Marc W. Michalowicz, D.D.S., M.Sc..

Marc W. Michalowicz, D.D.S., M.Sc., is an assistant professor at the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine and is chief of dental medicine and attending in anesthesiology at Helen Hayes Hospital. His hospital-based practice focuses on special-needs patients, the use of oral drugs to decrease anxiety, and dental treatment under general anesthesia for the special-needs patient.

November 26, 2008
A:

If finances permit, and your overall health and bone structure meets the necessary criteria, the best treatment would be an implant. Implants have been around a long time, and if placed by a well-trained and experienced doctor, they should last you a lifetime. The big advantage is that you are not cutting down the surrounding teeth to anchor a three-unit bridge.

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Cosmetic Dentistry
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Kids & Teens
Oral Care & Prevention
Oral Health & Your Body
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