Beyond Smoking: 4 Surprising Risk Factors for Oral Cancer
Several factors raise your risk for oral cancer, even if you don’t smoke. If these apply to you, it’s time to take preventive steps. Keep reading to learn more.
Will I Need a Crown After My Root Canal?
Root canals are one of the most common dental procedures performed in the United States. The safe procedure eliminates harmful bacteria in your infected tooth, prevents further infection, and saves your tooth structure. In most cases, a crown helps achieve those aims.
Our expert team at Swinney Dental in Tyler, Texas, provides root canal therapy to ease your pain and save your tooth. Read on to learn how crowns fit into this treatment.
Root canal basics
All of your teeth have a natural canal that holds nerves and soft tissue called pulp. When you need a root canal, the pulp is infected, damaged, or dying.
Before your root canal procedure, our team numbs the area so you won’t feel any discomfort. Then, we remove the pulp, clean and shape the canal, and fill the canal with a safe material.
How a crown helps your root canal
In most cases, a dental crown is needed to protect your tooth. Because a root canal removes some of the tooth’s structure and causes some blood supply loss, your tooth is brittle afterward.
The crown provides a strong and protective cover so you won’t have to worry about things like fractures or another infection. Especially when a molar has the root canal, the crown also allows you to chew normally.
Why you might not need a crown after a root canal
While most root canals involve a crown, you might not need one if you have the procedure on one of your front teeth. An incisor or canine with minimal damage may keep its structure without one.
If the treated front tooth has minimal decay and good post-procedure structure, we might suggest only a filling.
What to expect from your crown
On the day of your root canal, you’ll receive a temporary crown. This crown, made of resin, will protect your tooth until your sturdier crown is created from a mold of your tooth.
To keep your temporary crown from popping off, avoid flossing the tooth until your crown placement appointment. Not chewing hard or sticky food with that tooth helps, too.
Your permanent crown placement is simple, quick, and painless. We will make sure the crown fits properly, lightly adjust it if needed, and secure it with dental cement. After we finish, you can floss and use the tooth like normal.
Crowns are sturdy and look like natural teeth. With proper care, your crown could last for 15-30 years.
To learn more about a crown after your root canal or get started with the personalized care you need, contact Swinney Dental today.
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