A study of over 16,000 patients found that dental implants have higher survival rates (98% at nine years) compared to root canal therapy (83%), but implants cost more than double the price at $2,667 versus $1,243 for root canals.
- Implant survival rate: Nearly 98% at nine years, compared to 83% for root canals
- Function time: Implants average 6.6 years versus 5.8 years for root canal-treated teeth
- Cost difference: Implants cost $2,667 on average versus $1,243 for root canal therapy
- Study scope: Analyzed 10,654 root canal cases and 5,327 implant cases from 2015-2023
- Key takeaway: Implants offer better long-term outcomes but at significantly higher cumulative costs
Replacing endodontically diseased teeth with implants may offer greater survival and function time compared to root canal treatment, according to a study published August 25 in the Journal of Dentistry.
However, the benefits of implants appear to come with much greater cumulative costs, the authors wrote.
“Overall, survival and function time of implants replacing endodontically diseased teeth was greater than that of teeth following root canal treatment,” wrote lead author Dr. Fernando Mota de Almeida of the Institute of Odontology at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
To investigate the survival, function time, and costs of root canal treatment versus implant installation, a retrospective-based cohort study was conducted. The study included adults diagnosed with endodontic disease between 2015 and 2016 who were treated with implants or root canals. The participants were followed until 2023. Of the adults, 10,654 had root canals and 5,327 had implants installed.
Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to assess survival, and function time was expressed through restricted mean survival time, truncated at seven years. Mixed-effects regression models were used to estimate costs, according to the study.
When compared, survival at nine years was more than 83% for root canal therapy and nearly 98% for implants. Restricted mean survival time was 5.8 years for root canals, a little higher at 6.6 years for implants, the authors wrote.
In terms of respective mean cumulative costs, it was $1,243 for root canals and $2,667 for implants, they wrote.
However, the study was not without limitations. Instead of assignment, inclusion had to be based on treatment. This can introduce several factors, including immortality bias, the authors wrote.
“While implant-based tooth replacement provided greater survival and function time than root canal treatment in general, benefits came at considerably higher cumulative costs,” Mota de Almeida and colleagues wrote.
