Is Crown Necessary After a Root Canal?

What Is A Root Canal?

It is a dental procedure for repairing a natural tooth’s structure to avoid extracting it. This endodontic treatment removes the inner portions of a tooth that have been infected by bacteria, leaving the external framework intact.

When Would You Need an Endodontic Procedure?

Endodontists recommend treating the insides of teeth under the following circumstances:

1. Broken or cracked tooth – it may be that the injury impacted the nerve endings and soft tissues of the tooth.
2. Dental decay – instead of a tooth extraction, you can consider an endodontic procedure to save your decayed tooth.
3. Severe toothache – a toothache often indicates damaged nerves, whether due to an infection or an injury.
4. Heightened tooth sensitivity

What Does a Root Canal Procedure Entail?

The initial step of any dental procedure in dentistry entails a comprehensive dental exam. It ensures that the dentist is up-to-date with the number of problems and anomalies you have in your oral cavity before administering treatment. Afterward, the dentist will numb your mouth with local anesthesia. It will ensure you undergo pain-free treatment. Further. Your dentist may incorporate sedation dentistry to relax your body, putting you in a calm state to withstand the treatment.

A standard endodontic treatment entails drilling the tooth from the top, creating a tiny hole that allows access to the inside layers of the tooth. A dental drill or laser can get the job done. After drilling, the dentist will clean the inner layers of your teeth. The focal point of the treatment is the pulp cavity that houses nerve endings, blood vessels, and other soft tissues. The dentist removes all the damaged tissues along with any traces of infections.

After cleaning, the dentist will disinfect the canal, reshape it, then begin filling it with gutta-percha. The material substitutes the soft tissues inside the tooth, which will help keep it intact.

The last phase of the procedure entails filling the tooth with a standard dental filling to seal it. You can choose between metal-based fillings like gold or amalgams or get tooth-colored fillings like composites. Either way, the size of the dental filling will be synonymous with the amount of tooth structure needing restoration.

Must You Get a Dental Crown After a Root Canal Procedure?

Not all patients need a dental crown after a root canal treatment. Technically, the role of a dental crown is to cap the tooth structure to strengthen it and hold it in place. The reason is that the endodontic procedure may be invasive enough to compromise the sturdiness of your tooth. Fortunately, a dental cap can support the tooth for many years after treatment. The primary reason why a dentist in Westbrook Village Dental will recommend a porcelain cap over your tooth is if the dental filling in place is too big.

Another reason you would require a dental cap over a tooth is to mask discoloration. Dental decay is notorious for staining teeth. Therefore, after endodontic treatment, your dentist may recommend crowning to mask any discoloration, particularly for front teeth.

You should also make good to cap your tooth if you experience significant sensitivity before and after your treatment. A dental cap will limit direct exposure of your tooth to hot and cold foods, mitigating hypersensitivity.

Further, your tooth will require extra reinforcement if you suffer from bruxism, also called excessive teeth grinding. Any substantial pressure on your treated tooth can dislodge the dental filling, compromising the success of your treatment.

Benefits of Getting a Tooth Cap After an endodontic Treatment

Ultimately, it is up to you to decide whether you want to cap your treated tooth or not. Some benefits of crowning are:

1. A sturdier tooth structure
2. A natural-looking outcome – porcelain caps look and feel like natural teeth more than tooth-colored dental fillings.
3. Better functionality – particularly for back teeth.
4. A lower likelihood of dental damage regarding cracks, chips, and breakage.

How Long Will the Entire Treatment Last?

Typically, endodontic treatments last about 30-60 minutes in the dentist’s office. A standard procedure should be complete within one dental sitting. However, if you need a dental cap after the endodontic procedure, you will need another dental visit. The dentist will take impressions of your tooth to start working on developing your porcelain cap. The creation process should take about two weeks before it is ready for installation.