Do You Need a Crown After a Root Canal?
3 min readA root canal therapy is one of the most common procedures in the field of dentistry that aims to address an oral problem affecting the pulp of the tooth. In most cases, root canal involves drilling accompanied with cleaning on the inner part of the tooth. However, do you need a crown after a root canal therapy? Southern Smiles located near Sylvania highly recommends it for tooth reinforcement purposes.
According to recent studies, applying a dental crown after a root canal therapy significantly improves the chances for the tooth to last longer. Included on the results of those studies are:
- Teeth which underwent root canal procedure and had dental crowns increased the survival rate six times higher, and…
- For those without crowns installed, only a third of the molars survived for five years.
So why do you need a crown after a root canal procedure? Here are some very important reasons.
A Strong Crown Can Rejuvenate a Fragile and Sensitive Tooth
Though a tooth may deteriorate as time passes by, the degeneration hastens if it undergoes a major procedure such as root canal therapy. An untreated tooth that suffered from infection or dental caries will most likely need root canal as this dental procedure will make the tooth more fragile.
However, a tooth can restore its strength and durability even after undergoing a drilling procedure. By placing a strong dental crown, it will acquire high level protection and can last even longer with minimal risks of getting damaged.
A Well-Protected Tooth Minimises Sensitivity
Root canal therapy is a complex procedure. Due to its complexity, there’s a possibility that the nerves affected by the procedure may become extra sensitive due to exposure to cold and heat. This can trigger discomfort and anyone with sensitive teeth knows that. With a dental crown in place, the tooth will be protected and experiencing tooth sensitivity is less likely to happen.
Dental Crown Preserves Your Tooth’s Natural Colour
There’s always a high possibility that a tooth will be discoloured once it undergoes root canal treatment. If the tooth becomes gray or heavily stained, it can be resolved with a dental crown. This method gives your crowned tooth a natural appearance and a white kind of shade that closely resembles the natural colour of your other teeth.
Prevention of Infection and other Complications
After root canal therapy, your tooth will have higher risk of infection. By placing a crown, you’ll be shielding your tooth from leakages that can lead to recontamination. That way, you won’t have to undergo tooth extraction.
Which Teeth Are Highly Recommended for a Dental Crown After a Root Canal Therapy?
Which tooth will require root canal and its location are two major factors to indicate if dental crowning is required. In most cases, back grinding teeth such as your premolars and molars are those which would need a crown once root canal is finished. Incisors and canines may no longer need a dental crown, although it varies on the case. In the end, it’s your dentist at Gordon Family Dental who’ll decide if the tooth would need a crown.