Is It Safe to Leave a Root Canal Front Tooth Without a Crown?

Posted by AllSmiles

Is it safe to leave a root canal front tooth without a crown? My dentist will do a root canal on my upper left front tooth because it is turning back. The tooth is darkening from a blow to my mouth during an accident several years ago. I agreed to the root canal, but the dentist says she will put a post in the tooth without doing a crown. Am I at risk of the tooth breaking without a crown? – Thanks. Urselle from NJ

Urselle,

Root canal treatment can save an infected tooth, but the process also weakens teeth. If a tooth has extensive decay, tooth structure will be lost, further weakening it. Root canal back teeth are susceptible to the forces of chewing and grinding, so a dentist will recommend a crown to protect the tooth.

However, front teeth do not chew and grind and are not at risk of vertical forces splitting them. Still, a front tooth may break horizontally from cutting, biting, or performing other functions. A dental crown can weaken a front tooth further because it requires grinding down a tooth on all sides to ensure the crown fits over it.

Root canal filling material causes most teeth to darken after treatment. A dentist can minimize the darkening by cleaning root canal filling material from the crown of your tooth or the portion above the gumline. Filling the tooth with composite or core material and bonding it inside can help the tooth retain its lighter shade. The tooth will take ten to twenty years to become noticeably darker.

Consult a cosmetic dentist for a second opinion on preserving your tooth’s color after root canal treatment.

Chandler, Arizona, dentists Dr. William Walden and Dr. Tyrel Beavers sponsor this post. We cater to patients with dental anxiety.