Value of root-filled teeth in maintaining a functional dentition for life.

The purpose of this article is to draw attention to the strategic goals of planning for a functionally and aesthetically optimal dentate quality of life, and the role that teeth maintained through root canal treatment can play in such a plan. The perception that root-treated teeth should largely, and wherever possible, be discarded as a viable option is a seriously flawed judgment. The utility of root-treated teeth must be properly and critically discriminated as they can play a significant role in the long-term plan, despite having unique characteristics that must be accounted for.