he primary concern is the long-term preservation of
a healthy functional dentition. The concept of treating
the dentition as a functioning unit is in conflict with
traditional dental practice in which the tooth, rather
than the dentition, is often the focus of concern.
The dentist should consider the strategic value of the tooth
to be endodontically treated in relation to the overall
function of the dentition. For example, a 2nd molar or
3rd molar (Fig 2) is generally considered to be of little
strategic value, unless it is required to support a
prosthesis. This is because a denture is more stable if it
has a posterior abutment tooth to retain and support
it.
Other strategic considerations may include the
structural integrity, remaining sound tooth structure,
morphology and dimensions of the root, the level of surrounding bone, amount of periodontal support, and
whether the tooth is in the aesthetic zone.