Why Saving Your Natural Tooth Is Often the Best Choice

June 26, 2026

Natural Teeth vs. Implants

A question I get asked a lot is: "What is the best way to restore a tooth, why not just pull them all out and put implants in there or worse ... dentures?" I have actually been asked that quite a few times over the years. But are implants or even dentures over implants better than the natural tooth that was given us by our creator?

After many decades in dentistry my answer would be an emphatic no, the natural tooth is far superior to an implant when you are comparing apples to apples. In my mouth or a family member, I would strive to never have an implant, unless the root was cracked or there was just not enough tooth structure there or infection or whatever. Of course if the prognosis is hopeless, then an implant to replace a natural tooth is better than a denture, partial denture or no tooth at all.

When Missing Teeth Become a Problem

Many of my patients do quite fine without the second molar, it seems they have enough chewing power on the other teeth to adjust. But, the more teeth are missing it gets more difficult with teeth supra-erupting and shifting. Given the choice between saving a tooth if the prognosis is even fair or guarded to good or excellent, it is far better to have the natural tooth in there than going to an implant where at all possible.

The natural teeth have the natural millions of ligaments which act as shock absorbers to the tooth and are far easier to clean compared to the bone loss, gaps and space under an implant that requires a far greater effort to keep clean. Of course, implants can also get infected and peri-implantitis and peri-mucositis is a real thing sometimes causing bone loss, inflammation, bleeding, pockets just like periodontal disease.

Why Saving the Tooth Is Usually Preferred

In my practice I strive to educate my patients on the best route to take and it is usually saving the tooth. Endodontic therapy has gotten so predictable and successful with a 98% success rate if the tooth is restored as soon as possible with a full crown and build up in the posterior and a filling in the anterior unless the filling is too large. These restorations last for years and years and the great thing is that you still have the implant option down the road if needed.

Bridges and Implants

The only caveat to this is the choice between a bridge and an implant. This is a more difficult choice that requires some pondering. The implant is a one tooth solution and you can floss around it, but the bridge is a 3 unit solution and if one anchor tooth goes bad, you usually lose the 3 teeth.

Bridges can last upwards of 20 years or more or less depending on good oral hygiene, but sometimes requires removal of tooth structure which could be a downside. Your dentist can educate you on the advantages, disadvantages, alternatives and costs for each option.

Protecting Natural Teeth Whenever Possible

With the advent of Clear Choice and all of these corporate implant centers, I see needless destruction of teeth and bone which is irreversible only to sell a full-arch case sometimes in the tens of thousands of dollars which can be sometimes not as good as keeping even a fraction of the natural teeth.

Given the choice of saving the tooth, assuming it can be saved or extracting it and placing an implant, I always err on the side of saving the natural teeth which are far, far superior. If you have any questions about dentistry in general or your oral health, please don't hesitate to contact us on our website.

Schedule Your Consultation

Interested in learning more? Call Two Rivers Dentistry today at 360-256-1202 to schedule your personal consultation with our dentist in Vancouver, WA, Dr. Vaughn Teuscher, and discuss your options.