What To Know About Getting a Dental Crown After a Root Canal?

What Is Dental Crown After Root Canal?

Dentists perform root canal treatment to relieve the symptoms of tooth infections, which generally manifest as immense pain and sensitivity. While an infected tooth disturbs the quality of life, it can be serious when the infection spreads to the brain or heart, which, in the worst cases, causes death. Endodontists specialize in dealing with the problems of the tooth pulp, nerves, and blood vessels within the tooth structure, and perform the root canal procedure. They remove the infected tooth pulp and debris and disinfect the tooth interior portion to clear off the growing infection. In order to access its internal structure, a small hole is drilled into the tooth. However, leaving this cavity open can create a point for re-infection, which is why it’s sealed with a filling or crown after the procedure. But does this mean your dentist will automatically recommend a crown? If you're asking, “Are crowns required after a root canal for every patient?” or “Do you always need a crown after root canal?”—the answer is no, not always. The necessity of a crown depends on several individual factors.

Why Is Crown Required After Root Canal?

Getting a dental crown after the endodontic root canal procedure protects the tooth's interior from contamination. While a cavity left open can become a hotspot for root canal re-infection, a crown acts as a protective barrier. They act as a protective barrier, blocking food particles and bacteria from reaching the tooth.^[1] But a dental filling does the same!  A tooth-colored filling seals off the interior and restores the natural appearance. Further, a root canal is an endodontic procedure, and placing a dental crown involves additional costs and can extend the overall treatment timeline. This means both your bill and recovery period may increase. Dentists typically recommend a dental crown after a root canal if 

• The natural tooth has become fragile. In some patients, a bacterial infection may weaken the tooth structure. In others, too much drilling or a previous injury can traumatize the tooth structure, making it fragile and prone to cracks. Further, a weak tooth after root canal before crown cannot perform its natural functions of chewing or grinding, especially when it's a molar or premolar.
• The natural tooth is too sensitive to hot or cold objects. Less enamel content can expose the dentin, making it more sensitive to hot or cold sensations, which may worsen with time.  
• Natural teeth lose their color. In some cases, teeth without pulp may lose their natural hue and color. Dentists recommend crowns for these teeth, especially when the front tooth can compromise the aesthetics.  

How To Fix Crown After Root Canal?

The procedure for getting a tooth crown after root canal treatment is carried out in a stage-wise manner. First, the dentist will carry out root canal treatment to remove the infection, followed by a crown procedure to protect the treated tooth. While both fall under two separate dental specialties, we have briefed them below for a better understanding. 

Root Canal Treatment

Root canals are performed by endodontists. Endodontists are dental specialists who have received professional training in treating problems of tooth internal portions. While some general dentists also carry out root canal treatments, it's better to choose endodontic specialists for complex conditions. They drill a small cavity into the infected tooth to reach the interior pulp cavity. They use endodontic files, reamers, and barbed broaches to remove the infected tooth pulp and debris from the cavity. Further, they use safe irrigating solutions to disinfect the cleaned root canals and seal them using a sealant. You will heal within a week, and during this period, the inflammation, soreness, and pain will subside.     

Dental Crown Procedure

After the endodontists ensure the root canals are free from residual bacteria, you can schedule an appointment with a general dentist. They will evaluate the treated tooth for symptoms of lingering infection. Further, they evaluate if the tooth is too fragile and requires a core buildup. Next, they reshape the tooth structure so that it can accommodate the upcoming dental crown. They remove some portion of the enamel and collect its digital impressions for crown fabrication. Dentists need to be cautious while preparing a tooth for crown after root canal. Too much enamel removal leaves a too scanty tooth structure, while they still need to ensure the diseased portion is removed. In some patients, there may not be enough tooth structure left. In those cases, they use filling material to build up the foundation over which a crown can be placed. Once the permanent crown is ready, they fix it using dental adhesive and check for the bite force and fit.

Are you ready to take the next step? Whether you’re comparing crown types or planning treatment abroad, our trusted dental partners offer personalized guidance without the guesswork. Sign up with Envoy Health and get a free quote, or schedule your consultation today.

Crown After Root Canal: Know the Timelines

Dental crowns are customized caps fabricated in a dental lab. They are not store-ready, and their preparation takes time. Additionally, dentists often wait for any signs of lingering infection to subside before proceeding. But how long can you wait for a crown to be placed? Do you need it immediately, or does waiting impact the overall result? We answered the most asked timeline-related queries below. 

When To Get Crown After Root Canal?

You can wait for a few months before getting a tooh crown after root canal treatment. While the exact time varies with the tooth condition, location, and severity of infection, this can be 1-2 months after the initial procedure. Dentists determine the wait duration based on individual factors. For instance, in the case of

• Severe tooth infections, they wait longer to ensure that the RCT procedure clears the entire infection. 
• Back teeth, where the molars are infected, they try to fix the crown sooner, as molars are involved in chewing activities. Chewing with a broken or weak tooth can only result in further tooth damage.
• A weakened tooth, irrespective of whether it is a front or back tooth, requires a crown as soon as possible. A weakened tooth cannot perform its normal functions and is prone to breaks and cracks. It should be protected with a crown within a few days after the root canal, and waiting in these cases only worsens the condition.  

Can I Wait a Month To Get a Crown After Root Canal?

Yes, waiting a month to get a crown after the root canal is normal, provided your dentist fixes a temporary crown. Your root canal-treated tooth heals while the temporary crown protects the structure and prevents re-infection. However, you need to follow gentle aftercare tips for temporary crowns. Brush your teeth regularly, and avoid sticky or chewy foods. Poor oral hygiene can lead to decay between the crown and gumline. Further, consuming too hot or too cold foods can affect the dental cement, leading to crown loosening. 

Can I Get Crown Immediately After Root Canal?

Not quite. Dentists typically don’t place a crown right after a root canal, and in most cases, it’s not even feasible. They usually wait a few days to a few weeks to ensure the infected tooth is fully free of bacteria. In some cases, like with curved root canals, thorough cleaning can be tricky, so extra time helps confirm that the infection is completely resolved. However, if the tooth is too weak to be left exposed, a temporary crown may be placed to protect it until a permanent one is ready.

Why Wait Two Weeks After Root Canal for Crown?

Waiting for a dental crown for two weeks after a root canal procedure will ensure your tooth is free from infection and does not carry any residual bacteria. Capping the RCT-treated tooth for two weeks without the residual bacteria ensures the longevity of results.  

Can I Wait Three Months After Root Canal To Get Crown?

A three-month wait for a crown after the root canal is quite long. While it's worth stating that the waiting period for a crown varies with specific conditions, you can still wait in specific cases, like a prevailing infection or nerve damage that has not completely healed. Placing a permanent crown on a tooth that has not completely healed can cause increased sensitivity, pain, and discomfort.   

What Is Worse: A Crown or a Root Canal?

Neither a crown nor a root canal is worse. They indeed improve your condition. However, the choice depends on your tooth condition and the underlying cause of discomfort. We differentiated between them in the table below.

 A crown or a root canal: What is worse?

Disadvantages of Dental Crowns After Root Canal

While dental crowns add strength to the natural tooth, they carry drawbacks like allergies and dislodgement. While allergies due to dental crown materials are uncommon, they may still occur in a few candidates. Dentists need to understand the candidate's medical and allergy history, along with previous information on cross-reaction. Based on this, they should choose the crown type. Typically, zirconia and all-porcelain crowns are the least allergic. The cheaper all-metal crowns may be durable. However, a few candidates can be allergic to the metal components of crown material. On the other hand, an improperly fixed crown may loosen, giving a chance for bacterial buildup between the crown and the tooth surface.^[2] This can be more serious, and the crown would fall off, lowering the success rate of the treatment. 

What Happens if I Don’t Get a Dental Crown After Root Canal?

Not all root canals require a dental crown. However, some people delay or neglect the crown after a root canal, either due to cost or treatment timeline, even when it's required. This has serious consequences, like tooth cracking, fracture, or re-infection, which can only worsen the symptoms.

Which Crown Is the Best After Root Canal?

Deciding on the right crown type after a root canal procedure can be tricky. While various types of dental crowns are available on the market, your dentist will consider the tooth location and dental crown after root canal cost to finalize the right one for you.

Tooth Location

The back teeth, the molars, and premolars are typically involved in chewing and grinding food. They are exposed to a strong bite force, and materials like porcelain may chip or break after a few years. Dentists consider durable crowns made from materials like all-metal, porcelain-fused to metal, or zirconia. In case you are allergic to metal, zirconia can be the sole choice. While zirconia crowns are most often used for back teeth, front teeth are often fixed with porcelain crown after root canal. Thanks to their aesthetics and natural look. Front tooth crown after root canal are mostly made from porcelain. They seamlessly blend with the surrounding natural teeth and enhance the appearance of your smile. Crown price varies significantly with the type of dental material.

Crown Cost

The combined cost of RCT and a crown is between $1,800 and $5,000. While a root canal procedure costs between $700 and $1,500, the added costs amount to dental crown prices. The cost of a dental crown after a root canal varies with the crown type. Below, we listed the common types of dental crowns and costs 

• Zirconia crown cost: $1,000-$2,500 per tooth
• Porcelain crown cost: $800-$2,000 per tooth
• Cheapest all-metal crown: $700-$1,500 per tooth

The cost of your crown isn’t just about the price tag; it’s about long-term value. Your dentist will recommend a crown that fits your specific dental needs while balancing durability, aesthetics, and affordability. Investing in the right crown after a root canal can save you from additional treatments down the line.

What Happens After Getting a Dental Crown After a Root Canal?

Naturally, what follows a dental crown after a root canal is aftercare. You will return home and get back to your routine while caring for your new crown. While the procedure is carried out under local anesthesia, you will still feel some pain slightly as the anesthesia wears off. Further, follow these simple steps for the longevity of the crown.

• Prioritize oral hygiene. Clean your teeth daily by brushing and flossing to remove any trapped food particles stuck between them.
• Try not to chew on the side of the tooth that was treated. Chewing too hard during the early days after the procedure can potentially dislodge the crown.
• Refrain from biting on hard, crunchy foods. Avoid chewy and sticky foods like gum and sugared candies, which may cause tooth decay.
• Use an antimicrobial mouthwash to keep your oral cavity free from harmful bacteria.

When To Eat After Root Canal Before Crown?

It's better to wait 30-45 minutes after root canal treatment. Your procedure will be carried under local anesthesia, and consuming food while it hasn’t worn off can be dangerous. You might end up biting your tongue or cheek, causing pain. Further, stick to soft foods like yogurt, smoothies, or mashed potatoes. Moving jaws to chew normally can cause pain. Remember to clean your oral cavity after consuming food.   

Does Crown After Root Canal Hurt?

Tooth crown after root canal pain is barely felt. While the procedure is carried out under local anesthesia, you won’t feel much pain. Some candidates may experience sensitivity, a slight discomfort due to inflammation, and a feeling of soreness. This can be due to the healing of the surrounding tissue and crown adjustment in the location. Following the dentist's prescribed aftercare tips is the best way to deal with the dental crown pain after root canal. With proper care, this gradually gets down, and you will feel normal. In rare cases, candidates may experience pain due to underlying complications that cannot be ignored. Don’t hesitate to see your dentist in case of swelling or pain that does not subside within a week. 

Potential Complications Due to a Dental Crown After a Root Canal

A dental crown after a root canal is usually safe when carried out correctly. The procedure clears off the growing infections and restores the complete function of the tooth. Furthermore, it does not compromise the smile's appearance. However, there are a few risks when it's carried out incorrectly or not cared for properly.

• Tooth decay beneath the crown: Occurs due to compromised oral hygiene, and poor fitting, leaving space for bacterial growth between the natural tooth and the surface underneath the crown.  
• Dental crown dislodgment: A wrongly fixed crown or one with underlying decay may fall off. Do not rely on at-home fixes. Retrieve the crown and see your dentist as an emergency. 
• Crown chipping: Dental crowns chip when you bite into hard foods, due to accident, trauma, or you frequently clench your teeth. You will need a crown replacement, which a dentist should do.  
• Rough edges or a poor fit: While this causes discomfort, it can occur due to procedural errors like inaccurate impression collection, improper adjustment, poor crown fabrication, or overloaded cement.  

When you ask us how to avoid these potential risks, it's simple: Stick to a strict oral care routine, and more importantly, get the RCT followed by a dental crown done by a qualified, experienced, and skilled dental professional. In case you are unsure about finding the right expert, we outlined a few practical steps to make a confident choice. 

Finding the Right Dentist for a Crown After a Root Canal for a Smoother Journey

Make sure you follow these steps to find the right dentist and have a smoother patient journey.

• Know the dentist's qualifications. While general dentists also perform root canal procedures, endodontists are specially trained to deal with them.  
• Check out the dentist's years of experience. In general, fresh graduates or younger dentists stay acquainted with advanced dentistry tools. However, you cannot ignore the factor called experience. Root canals can be complex in a few patients, and experienced dentists can handle them aptly, reducing your incidence of root canal side effects.
• Verify their credentials and certifications. Unfortunately, unqualified professionals do exist, and receiving treatment from one can be risky. Research and verify dentist credentials, professional memberships, and licenses. 
• Rely on social media platforms to check out dentist reviews and root canal crown before and after patient experiences. This offers you real-world insights into the quality of work you can expect.
• Attend an initial consultation and obtain a detailed price breakdown. Root canals and dental crowns are separate procedures and are often billed individually, so it's easy to get confused about the total cost. A clear estimate upfront helps avoid hidden costs and last-minute surprises.
• Ask your dentist for a dental narrative for crown after root canal, in case your insurance covers it. A dental narrative is a brief explanation provided by a dentist describing the medical necessity of the crown. Insurance companies often consider a crown as an added cost for treatment and require a justification from the dentist stating the medical necessity of the crown in order to process the claims.   

How Often Should Dental Crowns Be Replaced?

Ideally, dental crowns last 5-15 years and should be replaced within this period. The exact time for replacing them varies with the type of dental material, the oral hygiene you follow, and their location within the mouth. For instance, crowns made from porcelain last a minimum of 10 years, while those made from zirconia or all-metal last for 15 years. Further, poor dental hygiene and habits like clenching or teeth grinding make crowns more prone to chipping or loose fit. Either of the conditions require the crowns to be replaced. 

How Many Dental Crowns Can You Have?

The number of dental crowns you may have depends on the number of infected teeth and the extent of tooth damage. While each crown supports one damaged tooth, dentists fix crowns for teeth that have suffered severe damage. Suppose you have three infected teeth, and two of them have lost most of their structure due to infection. Your dentist will perform root canals for all three teeth and fix crowns for the two severely infected teeth. They will use dental sealant on the other tooth. 

Can You Get a Root Canal After a Crown?

A root canal after crown placement must be because of the re-infection. Don’t neglect the symptoms of prolonged sensitivity, pain, gum inflammation, or pus-filled boils. These symptoms of root canal re-infection cannot be ignored. They arise when the harmful bacteria re-enter the tooth and cause tooth decay. It occurs due to the residual bacteria that have not been cleared out of the root canal. Alternatively, bacteria made re-entry into the crown through minor chips and cracks.  

How Long Does a Root Canal Last Without a Crown?

A root canal can last 1-5 years without a crown, but it can last 10-15 years with a crown. Using high-quality filling materials and following appropriate aftercare prolongs the longevity of treatment.^[3]  

Can Getting a Crown Cause Root Canal?

The apprehension of requiring a root canal due to a crown is indeed a myth. Precisely fixed crowns, in fact, add strength to the tooth structure. However, those with an ill fit have a chance for bacterial buildup between the crown surface and tooth structure, leading to tooth decay. 

Final Words

Getting a dental crown after a root canal isn’t just about protecting a treated tooth. It's about investing in your dental health, comfort, and confidence in the long run. While not every case demands a crown, understanding when and why it’s recommended can save you from future complications and added costs.

Are you considering a dental crown after your root canal? Let our expert team help you compare treatment options, clinic costs, and timelines so that you can make the right decision with peace of mind. Sign up with Envoy Health for a free consultation and find trusted dental care that fits your needs and budget.

References

1. Relationship Between Crown Placement And The Survival Of Endodontically Treated Teeth
2. A Retrospective Analysis Of The Need For The Root Canal Therapy For The Full Crown Restorations: An Original Study
3. Crown Or Not To Crown Root Canal Treated Teeth