Are Dental Crowns Needed After A Root Canal Procedure?

An infected tooth is no fun, but don’t worry—Dental Rodeo has you covered. We’ll swoop in with a root canal to clean up that aching tooth and prevent further damage. Once we clear out the nasty stuff (a.k.a. the decayed or infected pulp), we top things off with a protective dental crown, giving your tooth a fresh start. The best part? You’ll walk out with your smile looking as beautiful as ever, fully protected, and ready to shine!

What is a Root Canal?

A root canal might sound intense, but it’s just a way to clear out infected, inflamed pulp inside a tooth and get you back to pain-free chomping! While we think of teeth as solid, they have a soft core called dental pulp, full of blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. This pulp feeds the tooth and helps create dentin—the hard layer under the outer enamel that makes up most of the tooth.

Normally, dental pulp is safely protected by enamel and dentin. But sometimes, bacteria find a way in and cause an infection. This can happen due to cavities, cracked teeth, gum disease, teeth grinding, trauma, or even a slip in your brushing routine. Curious to learn more about what happens in a root canal? Head over to our All About Root Canals page for the full scoop!

How Do You Know If You Need a Root Canal?

If you need a root canal, you’re probably feeling some serious discomfort. That pesky, inflamed pulp is putting pressure on the tooth nerve, and ouch—it hurts! Even if you’re not in full-on pain, your tooth may be ultra-sensitive to hot or cold. Let’s be real; no one wants to be peeled off the ceiling after a bite of ice cream! But don’t worry—we’ll have you back to enjoying that double-chocolate chip sundae in no time.

Infected teeth can produce less obvious symptoms, including:

• Swollen gums
• Loose or discolored teeth
• Gum pimples
• Swollen jaw
• Pus draining from small holes in the gum

How Long Does it Take to Do a Root Canal?

Good news—a root canal doesn’t take all day! In fact, we can often complete a root canal procedure in 30 to 60 minutes, and even the trickier ones are usually done in about 90 minutes. Typically, a root canal is completed over two easy appointments.

Here’s the game plan: during your first visit, we clean out the tooth, take an impression of the tooth, and pack it with antibacterial medication to make it clear new bacteria is unwelcome. The tooth impression then heads off to a lab, where your custom dental crown is crafted to fit perfectly. By your second appointment, it’s crown time! We bond the new crown to your tooth using a tooth-colored cement, making it look as good as new. And voilà—you’re back to your beautiful smile, ready to take on whatever you love to eat!

What Happens If You Don’t Get A Root Canal?

• You’ll have a painful tooth that will not get better on its own. Remember those old-timey cartoon characters holding their jaws because they had toothaches? Yeah, they needed root canals.
• The infection may spread and make things worse. Untreated oral infections can lead to an abscess. The infection may also spread to other parts of the body.
• The tooth’s nerves can suffer extreme damage and even die.

Are root canals painful?

Nope, you won’t feel a thing! We use a local anesthetic before starting your root canal so you can sit back and relax. After dealing with the infection pain, most people welcome some numbing relief. Remember, if you feel even the tiniest bit uncomfortable during the procedure, don’t just tough it out—give us a heads-up! Some folks need a little extra anesthetic, and we’re here to keep you totally comfortable from start to finish.

What is a Dental Crown?

Think of a dental crown as a hard hat for your tooth. It’s tough, protective, and ready to keep your tooth safe and strong. Crowns can be made from metal, ceramics, or porcelain crowns that mimic the look of natural tooth enamel.

Is A Crown Necessary After A Root Canal Procedure?

Absolutely! After a root canal treatment, a dental crown helps restore the functionality and health of the tooth. The crown strengthens the tooth and protects it from damage or new bacterial infections. Having a dental crown after a root canal treatment greatly increases the chances of your tooth’s survival.

Reasons For Getting A Dental Crown Procedure After A Root Canal

• Strengthens a fragile tooth
• Protects the tooth from sensitivity
• Maintains the appearance of your tooth
• Prevents secondary infections

Which Teeth Require A Dental Crown Following a Root Canal?

You’ll need a dental crown if the affected tooth is one of the molars, premolars, or grinding teeth. Root canals on the canines, incisors, or front teeth don’t always need a dental crown, although we recommend some form of permanent tooth restoration after the root canal.

Root Canals On The Front Teeth

• Front teeth have thinner dental pulp, making it easier to complete root canals.
• Front teeth heal from root canals faster than other types of teeth.
• Front teeth don’t face as much pressure as premolars and molars.
• Permanent fillings and veneers are used instead of crowns.

Premolars and molars, in contrast, are used for grinding and need the extra strength of a dental crown to restore full functionality.

How Long Do A Root Canal And Crown Take?

How long a root canal procedure takes depends on how many roots the tooth has.

Molars

Your back teeth, or molars, have two or three roots, each consisting of one or two root canals. Most molar cases require cleaning four canals, making them the most complicated root canal cases. It takes about 90 minutes to eliminate the damaged roots, disinfect them, and place the filling.

Premolars

A premolar root canal typically takes 60 minutes, with the final time depending on individual tooth anatomy.

Canines and incisors

Canines and incisors have single roots and thin dental pulp. Most front teeth root canals take 45 – 60 minutes.

How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?

Getting a dental crown is one of the most effective ways to strengthen your tooth and make it durable, increasing the lifespan of your root canal treatment. With proper care, a dental crown lasts about 12 years.

How to extend the life of your dental crown

• Maintain good oral hygiene, brush twice a day, and floss.
• Eat a healthy diet low in sugar, which promotes tooth decay.
• Schedule regular dental check-ups.
• Use a mouthguard if you grind your teeth at night.
• Don’t smoke.
• Reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption.
• Report any discomfort or issues with your dental crown to your dentist.

Get Your Root Canal and Dental Crowns at Rodeo Dental!

Rodeo Dental is famous for being a blast for kids (arcade games and face painting, anyone?), but don’t let the fun lobby fool you—our team treats adults with equal care and professionalism! Our experience with pediatric dentistry means we’re super gentle, making sure every patient feels at ease. So, whether you’re searching for a root canal specialist or need a crown for an old root canal, Rodeo Dental & Orthodontics has got you covered. Schedule an appointment online, call us at 888-453-4129.