Treatment planning considerations for the endodontically compromised tooth.

Recent advances in microendodontic procedures have dramatically enhanced our ability to successfully retreat most endodontic failures, either surgically or nonsurgically. Ironically, this comes at a time when we are seeing an increasing tendency to forego heroic endodontic procedures in favor of a single-tooth implant. While an implant has proved to be a reliable replacement for a missing tooth, it should not be considered the true equivalent of a functional natural tooth. Whenever the possibility of retaining a functional tooth exists, it should be considered seriously before an ultimate decision is made.