What is Root Canal Treatment?
Every tooth in your mouth has a section called the pulp. A healthy tooth can protect its pulp. But, a damaged or decaying tooth is easily vulnerable to bacteria. Bacteria can enter your tooth and infect the pulp section.
The pulp has nerves, tissues, and blood vessels. When this area gets infected, your tooth may swell. You won’t be able to chew foods and the tooth will eventually crack. Root canal treatment stops this infection so your tooth doesn’t decay further. You don’t have to remove your tooth and your damaged tooth causes no more pain.
What Happens in a Root Canal Treatment?
First of all, your dentist will diagnose your teeth. An x-ray can help your dentist assess the degree of damage. Then, your dentist will use anesthesia to make your tooth numb. After that, he will try to reach your tooth pulp.
The canals beside your tooth should be cleaned. The abscess inside the canals is cleaned and the decaying pulps are removed. Then, the canals are filled with artificial and permanent materials.
Now, the condition of your tooth matters most. If your tooth is severely damaged, then you may have to visit the clinic several times.
However, after your root canal treatment, your tooth will have a crown over it. This crown is an artificial one and you have to carry it on your tooth forever.
Why Have A Crown After Root Canal Treatment?
1) To Protect Your Tooth From Further Damages
After having a root canal treatment, your tooth still retains weak sections. Root canal treatment saves a dying tooth. So, the tooth shouldn’t face any damages. Otherwise, your tooth may get fractured.
A crown is an artificial cap on your damaged tooth. The crown is made of metal or porcelain. So, it can protect your tooth for a long time.
2) To Help You To Chew and Bite
Your front teeth help you to bite and your back teeth help you to chew. So, if you have a root canal treatment on your front tooth, then you may not need a crown.
But, a back tooth faces more pressure. That’s why after having a root canal treatment, you must not ignore a crown over your back tooth.
You can’t always be cautious of hard foods. As a result, you may bite or chew hard food parts with your damaged tooth. Now, a root canal treatment may save your dying tooth. But, your tooth remains weak inside it.
A crown can protect your damaged tooth and you can chew hard food parts without any difficulty. A crown helps your tooth to withstand the pressure of your bite. Hence, you need a crown over your root canal treated tooth.
3) To Stop The Spread of Bacteria and Infection
During the root canal treatment, your dentist removes the infected pulp. A damaged tooth creates a way to enter bacteria inside your tooth pulp. After the root canal treatment, your dead or damaged tooth stops all the infections.
But, a damaged tooth is not strong enough to withstand your bite pressure. Hence, there is always a risk of tooth crack. Once your root canal treated tooth gets cracked bacteria can again enter your tooth pulp. As a result, your tooth may cause unbearable pain.
A crown can protect your damaged tooth. Your tooth won’t get cracked or fractured and you can enjoy your food. Thus, a crown can stop bacteria from entering your root canal treated tooth.
What If You Don’t Have A Crown Over Your Tooth?
The root canal treatment can save a damaged tooth. But, the tooth remains weak inside it. Hence, you need something to protect it.
Many people ignore crowns. They think that only the root canal treatment would be enough. But, a root canal treated tooth can get cracked without a crown.
If the crack reaches a deeper section, then you may have to remove your tooth completely. You may also have to bear the cost of a ‘single tooth implant’.
Apart from that, you may experience toothache and extreme pain. That’s why a dental crown over your tooth is really important.
Studies have revealed that a tooth that has undergone a root canal treatment should always have a crown over it. The crown protects the tooth and your tooth stays healthy for a long time.