Quote:
Originally Posted by TerryH
Isn't a crown required after a root canal? I have crowns on two teeth that have had root canals.
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A crown is also used wayyyy before you need a root canal... to put a new top on the tooth.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Douglas
A crown is only to hold the tooth together. It tends to be used after a root canal as all the drilling weakens the tooth.
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I've never heard that. I don't think a crown could or would hold a tooth together if it was split or broken.
From the following, it looks like after a root canal is done, a crown is put on top to finish it off:
"Root canal is also a slang term for a dental operation i.e., endodontic therapy, wherein the pulp is cleaned out, the space disinfected and then filled."
"After receiving a root canal, the tooth should be protected with a crown that covers the cusps of the tooth. Otherwise, over the years the tooth will almost certainly fracture, since root canals remove tooth structure from the tooth and undermine the tooth's structural integrity."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endodontic_therapy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_canal