How Soon Should I Get a Crown After a Root Canal?

While natural teeth can last for a lifetime, sometimes they can get damaged. Cavities, tooth decay, and dental trauma are some of the most common dental problems. Fortunately, restorative dentistry can help repair and save your damaged tooth.

If your tooth is decayed, a root canal treatment may be your last resort to saving it. A tooth becomes decayed when bacteria infect or inflame the tooth’s pulp – the innermost part of the tooth that hosts the tooth’s nerves, blood vessels, and other connective tissues.

Untreated tooth decay or infection can cause severe complications like tooth loss, jawbone damage, and bite problems, among other complications. Therefore, contact KK Dental Edison or visit an endodontist near you as soon as possible if you have the following symptoms:

• Severe tooth pain
• Pain when biting down or chewing
• Swelling around a painful tooth
• Dental abscess
• Severe sensitivity to cold, hot, or sugary foods and drinks

Our dentist will inspect your tooth to determine whether they can save it with a root canal. Keep reading to learn more about the root canal in Edison and when you should get a crown.

Root Canal Procedure

A root canal is essential to remove the infection, save the tooth, relieve your symptoms, and prevent the infection from spreading. The dentist will numb you to keep you relaxed and pain-free.

The dentist drills through the tooth to access the infected pulp for a traditional root canal procedure. The dentist will remove the decayed or diseased tissues from the tooth using small endodontic files. The tooth is then cleaned, rinsed, disinfected, and sealed to prevent reinfection.

Since root canal treatment entails removing a significant part of the tooth, the tooth is significantly weakened, making it vulnerable to fractures. Therefore, a permanent filling or crown is necessary to strengthen the tooth and restore its bite function. It also protects it against further damage and infections.

When to Place a Dental Crown After a Root Canal

A crown is a tooth-shaped dental device placed over the treated tooth. Since it covers the entire visible structure of the tooth, it improves the tooth’s size, shape, strength, and sometimes color. They are essential when treating the back teeth since they require significant chewing forces.

When placing a crown after a root canal, you should get it done as soon as possible. Most dentists recommend getting a crown 14 – 30 days after root canal therapy.

A crown can contain various materials, including porcelain, zirconia, gold, porcelain-fused-to-metal, and composite. Tooth-colored crowns like porcelain and zirconia can be customized to match the color of your natural teeth.

What if I Don’t Get a Crown After a Root Canal?

Unfortunately, not getting a permanent crown on time or entirely comes with potential risks, including:

• Reinfection: Without a permanent filling or crown, there’s a higher risk of bacteria re-inter the tooth through the seal, causing further decay and causing the need for a second root canal treatment.
• Further fractures: Since a root canal involves removing the tooth’s pulp, the tooth loses its strength and bite function significantly. It’s more vulnerable to cracking, chipping, or breaking when exposed to great chewing forces. Eventually, tooth extraction may be unavoidable.
• Tooth discoloration: Severe tooth decay causes the tooth to look dull or discolored. Placing a tooth-colored crown after a root canal will restore the tooth’s appearance and give you a uniform smile. Contact our dentist for cosmetic dentistry near you.
• Damage to the temporary crown or filling: Immediately after a root canal, the dentist can place a temporary restoration to protect the tooth as you wait for the permanent crown. Waiting longer can cause the temporary crown to fall off or get damaged, exposing the tooth to further infections and damage. You may need a second root canal to remove the new infections.

Schedule an Appointment Today

Are you experiencing severe tooth pain or swelling around a painful tooth? Your tooth might be infected. Visit our dental office in Edison, NJ, for a root canal treatment.