my dentist said that he drilled my root canal really conservatively and i didnt need a crown. I just went to a

Question

new dentist since I moved and he said I need a crown ASAP because all RCTs need a crown. Who do I trust?

It has a filling in and the first dentist said it was strong

Answer 1

In back teeth, it is generally recommended to have a crown placed over the tooth to protect it from breaking, as teeth that have had root canal treatment tend to dry out somewhat and become more brittle and susceptible to breaking. Front teeth are often strong enough to go without a crown, but sometimes they need a crown, too.

Answer 2

Whether or not you need a crown depends upon which tooth was root canalled.
When we do root canals on front teeth, we do not recommed capping the tooth. The hole drilled into the (front) tooth to perform a RTC isn't much different than the hole drilled to do a filling if the tooth has decay. If you had to have the tooth capped when it's RTC'd, then how can it be filled and be fine??
If an Endodontist did your RTC, he instructed you to visit a general dentist and have a final restoration placed. If a general dentist did the RTC for you, he filled the tooth that day.
If you had a back tooth root canalled, get a second (or 3rd!)opinion before you pay for a crown. But you will most likely need one.
Good luck!
Happy Holidays!

Answer 3

The objectives for crowning the tooth after a root canal are:

* to provide the seal for the canal
* to protect the tooth from future breakeage.

Both fillings and crowns can met the first objective. The second objective can only be met with the crown.

There are several factors that determine whether a tooth is likely to break. They are:


1. Whether the tooth has any dental restoration (fillings, crowns, veneers)

2. Whether the tooth was treated previously with root canal therapy

3. Age (dehydration of the dentinal layer, beginning at age 45+)

4. Bruxism (grinding teeth at night)

5. Occlusal trauma (misalignment of teeth)

6. Thermal stress (temperature changes)

Of these AGE and and ROOT CANAL are the two most significant factors.

But, generally, the more of these factors are present, the more likely the tooth may crack!

Now, you have to make an informed decision.

Best wishes,
Minh Nguyen, DDS
http://www.softdental.com

Answer 4

They didn't actually take out the root, just the pulp or nerve of the tooth (to remove the infection), then filled the root with a rubber like substance (gutta percha) and filled the top as they would a regular filling. With the root canal, your tooth is weaker than it was before and, if it is in a high impact area, you run a greater risk of breaking or chipping the tooth. That's why most dentists would recommend crowns. It sounds as though your dentist tried to remove as little tooth structure as possible, which is good. It should be fine, just know that it is weaker and you have to be more careful. =)

Answer 5

We always recommend posterior teeth (all the teeth backwards from the canines) be crowned after root canal treatment. Whenever a tooth is treated with a rootcanal, the blood supply is removed from the tooth and over time it will become brittle. Even if a well done filling is placed, that will not stop the tooth from becoming brittle. I have seen many people have rootcanals done on a back tooth, and never have it crowned, who come into the office complaining that their tooth has broken. It broke because it was dry and brittle and it was never crowned.

I would probably tend to agree with the new dentist. It isn't worth risking it and then one day biting down and have half the tooth crack off.

Answer 6

I had a root canal in the Spring and now my tooth is falling apart. My dentist said I would have problems with the tooth. I hope I can get a crown. I think your new dentist knows best.

Answer 7

When the nerve and the blood vessels are removed during a root canal the tooth becomes devitalized and thus more brittle. If it is a posterior tooth (molar or premolar), then it should be capped/crowned due to the amount of force they undergo during chewing. If it is an anterior tooth (canine of incisor) and access to the nerve was conservative, you can get away with composite bonding as a filling and no crown.

Answer 8

How do you conservatively take out all the root? With out root it needs protection and something to make it stable. Get the crown!

Answer 9

I'm pretty sure if you had your tooth drilled you would need it capped or filled so bacteria doesn't form in the tooth. I would say it would be better to get it filled rather that have to get it taken out at a later date.
*Everybody look after your teeth*