America's Dental Expert
Root Canals and Crowns
You know it as the worst procedure to get done at the dental office. Even worse than pulling teeth!
It's the dreaded root canal. I don't think I've come across a single patient who has had a GOOD root canal experience.
And after every root canal, you need to protect the fragile tooth underneath with a crown. Many times I get asked when I prescribe a crown as the recommended treatment to restore a broken tooth "Do I need a root canal?"
The answer is - usually not.
This is another one-way street in dentistry. Every time you get a root canal you need a crown on the tooth, but NOT every time you get a crown do you need a root canal.
A crown can be done on a healthy tooth and it isn't necessary to do a root canal on it. That isn't ALWAYS the case, but it usually is.
Do you have a dental question for America's Dental Expert?
Send your dental and other oral health related questions to America's Dental Expert, Dr. Shawn Van de Vyver, at DrVan@americandentalexpert.com