I just got a root canal done on my front tooth and cant afford to crown it, how long do I have before it chips

Question

Does it take years before it becomes brittle and breaks? Am I working w/ months? It's the tooth b/w the incisor and the canine.

Answer 1

Yikes, a lot of misinformation here so you should watch out when you're asking this forum!
Unless a front tooth has a lot of fillings and is already weak, there's no need to crown it unless it starts to turn color. Do not let them put a post in it either. We used to think that a post would reinforce a tooth but in the past few years that's been shown to be false and a post is only required to hold a buildup if there's not enough tooth left. It doesn't strengthen the tooth and may actually weaken it. Just make sure you have a bonded restoration in down to where the root canal filling material was placed.

Answer 2

If you have a temporary filling in the pack of the tooth, have it replaced with a more permanent material. Temporary fillings/crowns are just that - only meant to last a few weeks. Your dentist may have recommended a post be inserted to help strengthen the tooth against lateral pressure and if so, that can be done at this time and doesn't have to wait till you can afford a crown. Avoid eating foods that require a lot of heavy biting with your front teeth (like chicken wings, etc) and stick with foods where you can use a knife and fork, to bypass the front teeth. You may be able to get by without a crown for some time but the likelihood is that the tooth will eventually break and nobody can predict when this might happen. So save your money for the crown or take out a loan, where you can pay it off gradually with monthly installments.

Answer 3

Root canals on the front teeth are the least likely to crack. I'd say that 90% of my patients DO NOT have crowns. One gal broke hers a few years ago (root canal was about 30 years old) biting into a PowerBar. we put a post and crown on it then. No frozen snickers bars for you! Make sure the filling in the back is a permanent filling. Some people have left soft temporary fillings in and those don't last. that can cause decay and/or the need for the retretment of the root canal . (PS I'm six years and counting on a back tooth with no crown. All of the leterature says that if a tooth has sufficient healthy tooth structure., a crown is NOT indicated. Unfortunately most dentist's look at it as an easy way to make a buck)

Answer 4

The tooth you had root canal treatment is called a lateral incisor. Ideally you should at least have a post and core placed in the tooth to keep it strong. Teeth can become brittle after a root canal procedure and turn a darker shade.. this is because the tooth is 'dead' since the pulp, or nerve, was removed.

Do you have dental insurance? If so, it should cover at least 50% of the crown fee. If not, ask your dentist if they'll take payments...

The recommended 'healing' time period is 3 weeks.... so you have that much time to find a dentist that will work with you. In the meantime, try not to use that tooth too much so the risk of it breaking stays slim.

Best of luck to you.

Answer 5

In addition to what some have already posted, I just wanted to add (ask?) that since $900 is 'too expensive', what are you going to do if he should ever need surgery? Decide on whether the fee is too much? He's going to have those teeth for a while longer... like two or more years... Was the dentist that suggested your son be seen with an anthesthesiologist a pedodontist that specializes in children? If not, take him to one for a second opinion. If so, then he knows what he's talking about... Also, your son is old enough to get rid of the bottle if he hasn't already done so. Just toss them... all of them...and let him see you do it. He may put up a fuss for a while, but just ignore his crankiness and remind him that he's a big boy now and not a baby....you'll win eventually. You can't turn back time, what's done is done, and I wish you luck with him... but please don't use 'too expensive' to determine whether or not your son will be taken care of. It takes alot of money to raise kids these days, and their well-being should be your first priority. Again, good luck!

Answer 6

I had two root canals done. One on the top, one on the bottom. I could not afford the crowns. The temporary filling they put in lasted about 4-6 months. The top one fell out and a short time later the tooth broke. Had to get it pulled by oral surgeon. The bottom one lost temporary filling about 3-4 months later and also eventually broke. Need to get it pulled out. Save $$$ for the crown.

Answer 7

You should have it crowned soon. Why did the dentist not suggest this? You went to the expense and pain of a root canal and if you do not get it crowned you will lose the tooth.

Answer 8

i used to dental assist and it depends on how much of the tooth is gone...it could take maybe a couple of months...but the longer you wait the more chance you have of it getting reinfected. If they just opened the tooth in the back with a small hole and filled it with the temporary filling it shouldnt be that bad i remember the dentist i worked with would sometimes fill it with a composite (tooth colored) filling if it was small enough...it would be best to get it done as soon as possible though to be on the safe side.

Answer 9

THIS TOOTH IS NOT A HIGH STRESS TOOTH LIKE A REAR MOLAR.
IT DOES DRY OUT, BUT A FRACTURE IS NOT AS PROBABLE AS WITH MOLAR TEETH.
YOU ARE PROBABLY SAFE FOR SOME TIME W/O A CROWN. EVENTUALLY, IT SHOULD BE CROWNED HOWEVER. I WOULD NOT FORGET ABOUT THE TOOTH.

Answer 10

A couple months be careful want you eat try to put the food in the back of your mouth til you have the funds for the crown. You'll be ok