I have a canine tooth that recently had a root canal treatment. The appointment was awful and reinforced all the reasons I avoid the dentist to begin with. A friend told me I am going to need to go back and get a dental crown put on it or the tooth will fracture. I don’t think I can go back. Is this completely necessary?
Pamela
Dear Pamela,
I’m going to address the fear you are experiencing first and then we’ll go into the canine tooth with a root canal treatment. You are not alone in feeling uncomfortable at the dentist. Many people struggle with dental anxiety. So I understand your desire to stay away. However, doing so will make things harder for you. May I suggest something that could change your life and allow you to sit in the dental chair without anxiety?
I am going to suggest you see a dentist who offers sedation options. The option I’d like you to try is oral conscious sedation. it is administered with a simple pill. It is so strong that, if you want to, you can even sleep through your appointment. The only inconvenience is the sedation is so strong you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment. On the flip side of that, you can get much more work done in one sitting which will allow you to catch up on needed dental work much sooner.
Root Canals on Canine Teeth
If a back tooth has a root canal treatment, a dental crown is necessary to protect it from fracture because of the biting stress. Front teeth, however, have completely different biting stresses. Because of that, a dental crown will actually weaken the tooth. It can even cause it to break off at the gumline.
The only reason for a crown on a front tooth would be if a significant amount of the tooth was gone because of decay. In that case, a crown would be a necessity even if not ideal.
Another reason some people will put a crown on a front tooth that doesn’t need one is for aesthetic reasons. A tooth with a root canal will turn dark. However, you can avoid a crown if your dentist follows the following procedure.
First, they’ll need to clean out the inside of the entire crown of the tooth. They shouldn’t leave any root canal filling materials or cement. Believe it or not, that material is a large part of the darkening. Then, your dentist will need to place a white fiberglass post deep into the root of the tooth. This will help strengthen the tooth and add resistance against biting stresses. Finally, fill the remainder of the space with a white composite material.
This method prevents darkening for several years. When it does begin turning dark, I’d recommend a porcelain veneer done by a skilled cosmetic dentist.
This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Theodore Hadgis.