Do I Need a Dental Crown After a Root Canal Treatment?

If you need a root canal treatment, you will most likely need a crown to be placed on that tooth following the procedure. A crown will strengthen the tooth and protect it from damage. There are times, however, when a tooth may not need a crown after root canal treatment.

Why You Need a Crown

A dentist will generally recommend placing a crown after root canal treatment, because the treatment involves removing some of the inner structure of a tooth, leaving it at risk of fracturing.

During a root canal treatment, your dentist will drill a small hole in the tooth, then they will remove the infected pulp tissue through the hole. Then they will disinfect the root canals of the tooth to kill off any remaining infection. Next, the root canals are filled with a dental composite material. The final step of a root canal treatment is usually to place a crown on top of the tooth to seal the hole and protect it from cracking or splitting.

A molar or premolar tooth will especially need a crown after root canal treatment because these teeth are primarily used for chewing. When chewing, your molars and premolars withstand up to 30,000 pounds of force, but without its inner structure or reinforcement from a crown, a tooth could break just from chewing.

When You May Not Need a Crown

If you are having root canal treatment on one of your front upper or lower teeth, you may not need a crown after treatment. This is because the front teeth are not used for chewing and are put under much less pressure than your chewing teeth.

If you are wondering whether you will need a crown after your root canal treatment, do not hesitate to call My Ogden Dentist today!