Alternative to dental crown?
by Jim Croft
I had a root canal because of an abscess. Now I am told I need a root canal. With no insurance, is this a necessary procedure? Is the purpose to keep me from losing the tooth? reply by shelly ~ admin Hi Jim, That's a good question. I know many dental clients are surprised to learn that they need a crown after a root canal. You didn't mention which tooth had a root canal and that makes a difference...If it's a molar or premolar, a crown is a good idea. For incisors or canines it is not as critical. The reason for placing a crown on a back tooth after a root canal is to protect the tooth from breaking. Once the nerve or pulp of a tooth is gone, the tooth becomes more brittle and is more prone to breaking. Molars and premolars take a lot of chewing force. A crown covers the entire tooth and prevents fractures. The risk of not doing a crown is... the tooth could break below the gum line, not be treatable and have to be extracted. Front teeth don't carry as much of the chewing load and can be treating with a root canal without needing a crown. One exception is a front tooth that already has a very large filling. Any tooth that has a large filling may still need a crown. Your dentist can advise you. With the cost of a dental crown being so high it does add up to a very expensive tooth once both procedures are done. But since you have already invested in the root canal, it would be best to protect your investment (and your tooth) with a crown. Hopefully your dentist explained everything to you before the root canal was done. You may be able to purchase dental insurance to help with the cost but be sure to read the fine print as there may be a waiting period for major treatment. Your dentist can help you decide if the crown can wait or not. Here are some articles with more information including alternatives to dental crowns... What is a Dental Crown? Dental Insurance Guide Thanks for writing Good Luck, ~Shelly~ |
