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Is a Crown required with Root Canal

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  • 15-12-2018 1:27pm
    #1
    kig
    Registered Users Posts: 263 ✭✭


    Is a crown always required if you have a root canal. I went to the dentist and he started the root canal treatment, need to go back in 2-3 weeks time for completion, but then he says that I need a crown. This more than doubles what I was expecting to pay, and I can't afford that at this stage, so may just have the tooth pulled if it is essential. I have emailed him with the question but haven't heard back yet.


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    #2
    btkm8unsl0w5r4
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,538 ✭✭✭btkm8unsl0w5r4


    The decay and previous fillings in the tooth, and the hole in it for the root canal access, all lead to the tooth being very prone to catastrophic fracture. A crowns greatly reduces the chance of this.

    The stats are that in 5 years 50% of root canal treated teeth without crowns have to be extracted.

    I would say that the tooth should have a crown except for a few exceptions mostly trauma related where the tooth is not that compromised.

    Sould you bin the tooth because you cant afford the crowns, no. But know you should get it asap and that if it breaks in the interim thats your problem.


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    #3
    kig
    Registered Users Posts: 263 ✭✭kig


    what about an orthdontic band (not sure what that is, but someone mentioned it as a possible option)?


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    #4
    btkm8unsl0w5r4
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,538 ✭✭✭btkm8unsl0w5r4


    Thats only temporary and it doesnt provide the protection of a crown. Used only when a crack is suspected or as a temporary measure until the patient can get a crown ( literally a few weeks. )


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    #5
    WardonGordon
    Registered Users Posts: 31 ✭WardonGordon


    kig wrote: »
    Is a crown always required if you have a root canal. I went to the dentist and he started the root canal treatment, need to go back in 2-3 weeks time for completion, but then he says that I need a crown. This more than doubles what I was expecting to pay, and I can't afford that at this stage, so may just have the tooth pulled if it is essential. I have emailed him with the question but haven't heard back yet.

    Hi Kig,

    This question is case dependent.
    The answer to a question like do ALL teeth or do you ALWAYS have to is usually no.

    There are many important variables to consider.
    Back teeth take more load and you need quite a compelling reason not to crown a premolar or molar imo.

    The extent of the cavity. You might get away without a crown when the filling is only small like literally on the biting surface only. But once the filling goes in between the teeth the chance of the tooth fracturing is greatly increased.

    The teeth either side of the root canaled tooth. Are they there? If not the tooth will take more load.

    Tooth opposing the root canaled tooth. Is it there ? If not then the tooth will take less load as it won't be opposed.

    The answer is usually yes for long term survival of the tooth.
    The above posters statistics dont lie. Same old story, told they needed crown and didn't , now teeth needs extraction due to catastrophic failure. With the root canal cavity the fulcrum changes and they often break below the gum making them difficult or impossible to restore.

    Orthodontic band is either for diagnosing cracked tooth syndrome or preventing propagation of crack and can be used to protect heavily restored teeth during the root canal process before crown but they aren't used long term.

    Try and get the crown done in a dental hospital.


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