Root Canal Crowns Explained for Beginners

Why does a root canal tooth need a crown?

A root canal is a procedure that removes infected or damaged tissue (the pulp) from the interior of a tooth. The tooth is then cleaned and sealed. The treated tooth remains in your mouth, but it is now more fragile since part of its internal structure was removed during the procedure.

This can be an issue if a tooth had a particularly large section of decay since significant amounts of material have been lost. The teeth most likely to require a crown after a root canal are your molars (back teeth) due to the stress caused by chewing.

Is a crown always necessary?

Crowns are usually not needed for a front tooth that has ample amounts of structure left. The decision to have one done depends on how much of the tooth remains and where the tooth is located.

For molars and pre-molars, getting a crown is usually the preferred option since those teeth undergo the most stress. Personally, I would say go ahead and get the crown since that will reduce the risk of your tooth cracking down the road.

What is the process like? 

The actual process requires a couple of visits. First, your dentist will have to prepare the tooth for the crown. You will also get either a temporary crown or the permanent one during that visit. The next step will be for you to go back and have the new tooth permanantly affixed in place.

The most stressful part about having a crown placed is usually the preparation and numbing and if you don’t like the numb feeling, you know it will wear off eventually. The other thing is that once your mouth “gets used to” the shape of your new tooth, you might find that you feel strange when your other teeth touch it.

How do I take care of my root canal crown?

Good question. The most important things are:

1. Brushing around the crown on a daily basis

2. Flossing around the crown (might be a little tricky at first, but you get used to it)

3. Avoid chewing really hard things directly into the crown (this goes for ALL crowned teeth)

4. Paying visits to your dentist so that they can spot problems before they become serious

Is a crown really that great of an idea?

A crown is usually suggested if your dentist feels that it will prolong the life of your root canal treated tooth. The goal is not to make your tooth look pretty, but to give it enough support to last you many more years.

You don’t have to treat your crowned tooth like it is made of glass, but you should take reasonable precautions. Most of the time, you will not notice a difference in how your bite feels. However, if it suddenly feels “off” or if you have loosening of the crown, contact your dentist.

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