How Long Does a Root Canal Last Without a Crown

Despite its reputation, getting a root canal isn’t as bad as it sounds. But when you’re lying in the chair, one of the first questions that will likely come to mind is “how long does a root canal last without a crown?”

In this blog post, we’ll answer that question and discuss what happens if you don’t get a crown after your root canal treatment.

What is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a cap that sits over an entire tooth to protect and strengthen it. It’s often used after root canal therapy, as well as for cosmetic purposes such as covering discolored or misshapen teeth. A crown can also help restore a broken or damaged tooth and provide support for surrounding teeth.

The dental crown itself is made from porcelain, resin, metal alloys, or a combination of these materials. The dentist will determine which kind of material should be used depending on the nature of your treatment and the location in your mouth where the crown will be placed.

Why Do I Need a Root Canal? 

A root canal is usually needed when decay has gone deep into the tooth and reached the nerve. This can cause severe pain and infection.

To prevent further damage to the tooth and surrounding teeth, your dentist will recommend removing the infected tissue during a root canal procedure.

During this procedure, your dentist will clean out the infected area and fill it with an inert material to prevent future infection. 

How Long Does It Last Without A Crown? 

Root canals generally last for many years without any issues, but only with proper care! Without a crown or other restoration on top of the treated tooth, it is more susceptible to cracking or breaking due to wear and tear from chewing food or grinding your teeth.

To ensure that your newly treated tooth remains healthy for many years to come, your dentist may recommend getting a crown put over it after your root canal treatment.

A crown serves as an extra layer of protection for your treated tooth against any external forces that might potentially cause damage.

Whether or not you need a crown after root canal treatment depends on several factors, including:

Early Treatment

The sooner you receive root canal treatment, the better your chances are of avoiding any further damage that could require a crown.

Quick action helps prevent infection from spreading and allows for easier access to the affected area of your tooth.

Additionally, early detection and intervention can minimize tissue damage and reduce your risk of needing an additional restoration such as a crown.

Quality of Restoration

A well-done root canal restoration effectively seals off bacteria inside your tooth while removing diseased tissue and debris from within its interior chambers and canals.

When done properly, this type of work may allow you to avoid having to get a crown placed on top of your affected tooth in order to keep it protected from further harm. 

Tooth Location

The location of your affected tooth plays an important role in determining whether or not it will require a dental crown following root canal treatment.

Front teeth tend to have weaker enamel than those located in the back of your mouth, making them more prone to breakage or fracture without extra protection.

As such, they often require additional restorations such as dental crowns after receiving endodontic therapy.

Age

Age is another factor that impacts whether or not you’ll need a dental crown after receiving root canal treatment; younger patients tend to heal faster than older adults do and are less likely to experience a significant weakening in their teeth due to aging processes such as malnutrition or medication side effects associated with aging individuals.

Consequently, younger adults often don’t require extra reinforcement after undergoing endodontic therapy whereas older individuals may need additional support from either a partial-coverage or full-coverage dental restoration in order for their treated teeth to remain strong and protected from further decay or damage during their natural life cycle. 

Previous Restorations

If you’ve had previous restorations on your affected tooth before undergoing root canal therapy particularly if it’s already been fitted with an overlay then wearing down these existing restorations may be necessary prior to place an additional new one on top of it again so that there aren’t any issues with fitting both layers at once over time due to wear and tear movements within the mouth environment itself (such as chewing).

In some cases, this might mean using only endodontic therapy alone instead because it would create too much bulkiness with adding both treatments together into one single unit without making sure that everything fits correctly first beforehand which could cause discomfort later down the line when trying out different actions within our daily lives (i.e., eating).

What Happens if I Don’t Get A Crown?  

If you choose not to get a crown after your root canal treatment, there are still some steps you can take to protect your new dental work.

Regular visits to the dentist are essential at least twice per year so they can check up on how well your newly treated tooth is doing and whether it needs any additional restorative work done in order to remain healthy.

You should also practice good oral hygiene habits at home like brushing twice daily, flossing once daily, and using mouthwash regularly in order to keep bacteria away from the area where you had the root canal done.

Additionally, eating softer foods and avoiding hard candy or other crunchy snacks is also recommended in order to avoid putting too much strain on that particular tooth.

Pros and Cons of Getting Crowns After Root Canal 

That said, there are some benefits to getting a crown after having had a root canal. For one thing, it can help protect against further damage or decay by providing an extra layer of protection over your newly treated tooth structure.

Additionally, if you have had more than one root canal on adjacent teeth which is often necessary when there are extensive cavities then getting both teeth crowned can provide additional support and strength between them.

On the other hand though, while it can be beneficial in some cases to get crowns after having had one or more root canals done on your teeth, doing so isn’t always necessary especially if there aren’t any other underlying issues present with your teeth or gums at this time.

Conclusion

All in all, getting a crown after having a root canal is highly recommended for optimal results; however, if you decide not to have one placed immediately following treatment there are still steps you can take at home in order to ensure that you are treated tooth remains strong and healthy over time.

Just remember: regular check-ups with your dentist are key! If you have any questions regarding how long a root canal lasts without a crown please do not hesitate to contact us today!

We’ll be happy to help provide more information about this topic so that you can make an informed decision about what’s best for you and your smile!