Most people are not a massive fan of the dentist, especially if your visit requires a dental procedure such as a root canal. During the procedure, your dentist removes bacteria and infected pulp from the root canal to help prevent further infection of the tooth — helping you maintain the integrity of your natural tooth. Once the infected pulp has been eliminated, your dentist fills and seals your tooth.
Following the procedure, your dentist may recommend a crown to restore your tooth. A crown is an artificial tooth placed over the top of your existing tooth to improve its strength and appearance. The crown is customized to your existing teeth to restore the tooth to its normal size and shape.
But is a dental crown necessary? Can you get away with leaving on the temporary crown instead? How long should you wait to get a crown? Radiance Family & Cosmetic Dentistry is here to provide all the answers you need to make the best decision for you.
The Benefits of Getting a Crown
If your dentist recommends getting a crown for a tooth, it’s an important decision to consider. Here are a few benefits of getting a crown done (sooner rather than later!).
Helps Prevent Damage
Your tooth is likely in need of a crown because you underwent a root canal to remove an infection from your tooth’s root canal. Because of the surgery, your tooth is more fragile, leading to further damage such as tooth cracks. Having a crown atop the tender tooth will provide extra protection to prevent any more damage.
Minimizes Tooth Sensitivity
If you’ve ever suffered from tooth sensitivity, you know how painful it can be. After a root canal, you might find yourself with more sensitive teeth when exposed to hot and cold temperatures. A dental crown will protect your tooth from these extreme temperatures and minimize your sensitivity.
Reduces the Risk of Infection
Because your tooth was infected, it has a higher risk of becoming infected again, even after a root canal procedure. Placing a dental crown over the top of your tooth helps to seal it off from bacteria that can recontaminate it and result in you needing a tooth extraction.
Improves the Appearance
While a root canal procedure doesn’t always affect a tooth’s color, there is a chance your tooth gives off a slightly gray hue. Adding a dental crown will help you retain a natural-looking smile by keeping the tooth the same shade as the rest of your teeth.
How Long Can You Use a Temporary Crown?
Directly following your root canal, your dentist might provide you with a temporary crown until your permanent crown is created. This temporary crown covers the tooth and helps retain the tooth’s original shape, size, and strength until your permanent crown is ready.
A permanent crown can take anywhere from one week to four weeks for the dentist to custom-make to seamlessly fit into your existing smile. But if your temporary crown seems to be holding up, do you need to schedule your dental crown procedure as soon as it’s ready? Or can you continue to wear your temporary crown?
While your temporary crown can be worn for longer than the four weeks it might take for your custom-made permanent crowns to be created, it isn’t recommended that you postpone the dental crown procedure. The longer you leave the temporary crown in place, the more prone you are to infection or additional damage to the tooth.
What Happens If You Postpone Getting a Crown?
If your dentist recommends you get a crown following a root canal, you don’t want to put it off. By postponing a dental crown, you might experience one of the following scenarios:
- Your tooth becomes compromised and becomes infected or damaged without the added layer of protection.
- Your tooth, which is weakened from the procedure, cracks or chips — impacting the structural integrity of your tooth.
- Your tooth can split in half without a crown in place, which will result in you getting a tooth extraction.
If you’re already experiencing any of these situations, call your dentist to schedule an appointment to determine the next steps.
Dental Crowns for Teeth in Billings Montana
Don’t put off getting a dental crown and risk damaging your tooth even further. The sooner you have your crown procedure, the sooner you can have peace of mind. The skilled team at Radiance Family & Cosmetic Dentistry is ready to give you the peace of mind you deserve.
For all dental concerns, Dr. Rath offers preventative care, as well as porcelain veneers and crowns. To prevent further damage or infection to your tooth, schedule an appointment with the leading cosmetic dentist in Billings, MT.
