I have always envied those around me who seem to always have perfect smiles without even trying, because I feel like I was born with "bad teeth." While my teeth are in great shape now, it is only because I take great care to visit the dentist every six months for a check-up and cleaning and maintain good oral hygiene habits at home. While I used to get a lot of cavities, even though I thought I was doing "everything right" to keep them away, I am proud to say that I have been cavity-free for a couple of years now! I put a lot of research into what daily habits can wreak havoc on my teeth, and I thought it would be a shame not to share what has helped me with others who need the advice. I plan to post many oral health tips on my new blog!
If you are preparing to go through a root canal procedure for one of your teeth, you should not be surprised if your dentist tells you that you will need a dental crown afterward. A dental crown is a tooth that is artificial and is custom-made for a specific tooth in your mouth. Placing a dental crown over a tooth that went through a root canal is typically needed for a variety of reasons, and here are several things you should know about this.
A root canal requires getting under the tooth
The first thing to know is that root canals have a bad rap, and this is primarily because they require a lot of work. A root canal is a procedure that will require your dentist to get into the area of your mouth that is under your tooth. This area contains the roots of your tooth and the canals, and the dentist must clean out the infected pulp in the canals during this procedure. It is not easy to access this area of the mouth without removing a good portion of the tooth. The procedure is completed to save the tooth, yet you will lose a good portion of it, simply because this is necessary for the dentist to reach the infected canals and roots.
It compromises the tooth's strength
Because of the nature of what a root canal involves, after it is completed your tooth will be compromised in strength. A tooth that is whole is strong enough to last a lifetime, but a tooth that is not whole is much weaker. Using a dental crown over a tooth like this will provide the strength, protection, and durability that the tooth needs to hold up for a very long time. With the crown, you will be able to use the tooth as you always did. It will be strong enough to chew any food you eat, and it will last for a decade or longer.
If your dentist placed a filling in this spot after a root canal, you would likely experience problems with it within just a few months or year, as fillings are not nearly as strong as dental crowns. A dental crown is typically made of porcelain and will not break easily at all.
If you have any questions about your upcoming root canal or about getting a dental crown, make sure you talk to a dentist about these things at your next visit.
Share22 August 2019
