Does root canal always lead to crown?

[ohiominnie]

dh has perfect teeth. never had a cavity. not even in a baby tooth.

tuesday we went to the the dentist and he has what's called "internal resporption of a molar"....meaning (from my understanding of the dentist) his nerve is somehow eating away at his tooth from the inside out. it's been happening for awhile, but in the last year has gotten much worse. if left to it's own, it will eventually eat through the surface and put a whole in the tooth. then the tooth is lost for good.

but....a root canal can save the tooth! so he has one scheduled.

But the question is....the dentist didn't mention anything about follow up with a crown (when I had my root canal I needed a crown too, but mine was for a cavity gone bad)

So can a person have a root canal and not get a crown??? budget wise, that'd be GREAT!!!!!!!

i'd appreciate any info!
thanks!!!

 

[monarchsfan16]

I had a root canal on my front tooth. That did not require a crown; the dentist essentially put a permanent filling over the hole he'd drilled in the back of my tooth. But this was a front tooth, not a molar

 

[mefordis]

I had a root canal on my front tooth. That did not require a crown; the dentist essentially put a permanent filling over the hole he'd drilled in the back of my tooth. But this was a front tooth, not a molar

Me too! Had the same situation. No crown.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

I had a root canal on my front tooth. That did not require a crown; the dentist essentially put a permanent filling over the hole he'd drilled in the back of my tooth. But this was a front tooth, not a molar

me too

 

[sweet angel]

My root canal called for a crown.

If it's far back, why not just pull it?

 

[LadyyRedd]

If it's far back, why not just pull it?

I'm pretty sure it's because if they do, the teeth will shift over time.

I had a root canal on the tooth behind my eye tooth and it required a crown.

Kimya

 

[sweet angel]

I'm pretty sure it's because if they do, the teeth will shift over time.

I had a root canal on the tooth behind my eye tooth and it required a crown.

Kimya

Maybe, but I had my very last back tooth pulled (they couldn't guarantee that a root canal would save it) and nothing has shifted. That was a couple years ago.

 

[Sparx]

I had a rootcanal on the third tooth back from my right canine, and it required a crown.

 

[LadyyRedd]

Maybe, but I had my very last back tooth pulled (they couldn't guarantee that a root canal would save it) and nothing has shifted. That was a couple years ago.

I believe it's more likely to happen with teeth that aren't on the end. The space in between teeth causes the shift. Like when you have your wisdom teeth taken out, nothing shifts.

Kimya

 

[JR6ooo4]

Since you have had one done you know what it takes. They drill a hole aiming for the root and then pull the nerve. the size of the hole is what determines the need for a cap. And in some cases if a cap is needed you can do it 6 months or a year later. Roll it over into next years insurance if you have it.

But all that info is only from my dental visits. I'm not a dentist or anything...

Mikeeeee

 

[aprilgail2]

Eventually you will. A root canal basically kills the tooth and after a while if it is not crowned it will break and need one. I just get one put on right away to save the trip when it does break (learned that one the hard way!)

 

[ohiominnie]

Thanks everyone. Sounds like eventually he'll need one, even if he doesn't need one now.
I'm sure the dentist won't just pull the tooth. He's very much into preventative care and preserving natural teeth if possible.

I did have a root canal, but my tooth had had a couple of filling in it before I needed the root canal, so I wasn't sure if that was the reason for the crown or it was just always a given. Dh is bummed b/c he has never had so much as a cavity.

 

[Poohnatic]

I have had far too many root canals in my life (my teeth disintegrated under my braces-long story). Of those, only two have crowns.

That said, it depends on the severity of the work being done and which tooth is getting the work.

One crown is the tooth directly behind my canine on the bottom, the other is my last upper molar. It is my gold crown, so I joke that I am royalty. Psst, the crown just behind the canine is over 20 years old and has held up fantastic. When I had the gold crown done, my dental student's supervising professor raved about it (4 years ago). I think this was because my dentist in NY had attended that very dental program in Baltimore, lol.

Good luck to your husband-after so many years of not needing dental work, I'm sure this came as a blow. If the dentist is recommending a crown, I'd follow his advice.

Suzanne

 

[tink1978]

you don't need a crown done...unless the root canal does not fix the problem. Also, sometimes the teeth that have had root canals done will eventually need to be crowned, but not always. My dad did a root canal on one of my teeth last year and I did not need a crown.

 

[ohiominnie]

you don't need a crown done...unless the root canal does not fix the problem. Also, sometimes the teeth that have had root canals done will eventually need to be crowned, but not always. My dad did a root canal on one of my teeth last year and I did not need a crown.

Gosh, I really hope he's a trained endodontist.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Gosh, I really hope he's a trained endodontist.

 

[tink1978]

Yes....he is....I don't think I would have allowed someone who was not a professional fix my teeth.

 

[ohiominnie]

Yes....he is....I don't think I would have allowed someone who was not a professional fix my teeth.

Hee hee. yeah, I knew that. Just when I read, "my dad did a root canal on one of my teeth" I have visions of the "home root canal kit!"

 

[DisneyPhD]

I have had 5 root cannels in the past 7 years or so. 3 of them do not have crowns and don't need them. They are all front teeth and the dentist came in from the back, so there is no pressure on the filling.

Now I have had 2 major root cannels on back lower molars. One has a crown, and one is waiting for a crown.

My insurance is out for the year until July so we are holding off on the crown until then (my request, but dentist said it should be fine.) In fact, it looks just like the one with the crown for now.

The root cannel is around 800 to 1,000 and the crown is the same. I have a 1500 cap for the year.

It seems like if it is molar the chances of needing a crown is more likely.

 

[alldiz]

I am a Dental Hygienist....

When you have a root canal.....your tooth is now "dead"...
If you have a LOT OF TOOTH SURFACE LEFT....a filling will last
for a while, which is why a crown is not done right away...

HOWEVER...the tooth becomes brittle....and very easy
to fracture....So getting a crown before it breaks is
a good idea.....BECAUSE....if it BREAKS...
you might NOT be able to save it....if it goes down the roots...
Kerri