Is it possible to have a crown without a root canal ?

Question

my dentist told me that I need a crown on one of my molars b/c of a large cavity from inside the tooth. Does this probably mean that it will turn out to be a root canal plus a crown ? or not necessairily.

Also, if it's just a crown, would I expect the tooth to be sensitive after the procedure and for how long?

Answer 1

Yes, I have several teeth that have crowns but haven't had root canals performed on them. Some of them are supporting bridges that are taking the place of missing teeth and others were crowned because they needed very large fillings. If a tooth needs a large filling, chances are the dentist will recommend that it be crowned instead. That's because large fillings are unstable and can come out fairly easily. I had a tooth that had such fillings lost and replaced several times. Every time a filling needs to be replaced, it means more drilling on the tooth and less tooth to support that filling.

As for sensitivity, it depends on your age, the tooth that was crowned, and how well the work was performed. Young people tend to have more sensitive teeth than older people so it's not uncommon to have some sensitivity right after a tooth has been crowned. It normally goes down after a few months. If the pain persists or gets worse, do go back to the dentist as it can mean the nerve is now infected and you will need a root canal. Front teeth tend to be more sensitive than back teeth so if you get a front tooth crowned, you will feel it more, especially while the procedure is being done. When I mentioned the quality of work done, I meant that poorly done work causes more pain than work that is done properly. I had a bridge-crown to replace a missing molar. The work was rather shoddily done and the neighboring teeth never stopped hurting. I had to have it re-done several years later.

Answer 2

get a root canal .. it isnt bad. just depends on the level of drugs you take before u go

Answer 3

I am a dental assistant, and I deal with these questions on a daily basis. This question is one that is asked alot. To do the crown, the dentist will numb the area so you won't feel a thing. She/He will then use the drill to excavate any existing filling material, and decay. Usually, the dentist will know beforehand whether or not you need a root canal [x-rays show how deep the decay has gone, and if you are feeling any sensitivity, the doctor knows to watch for it], however, as the dentist is excavating the decay, he/she may find that even though you are not feeling any discomfort in the tooth at any other time, the decay does expose the root canals. In our office, we disclose this information at this time that you need a root canal before the crown is made, and we finish the root canal, build the tooth back up in preperation for the crown, and take the impressions for the lab to make the crown. To answer your question: Chances are, if your dentist told you that you did not need a root canal, you probably don't. But remember that dentistry is not an exact science, and the unexpected happens everyday. I have been in multiple procedure when a crown patient has turned into a root canal patient. Don't worry though, everything will be fine. If you have a good dentist, he/she will take good care of you!

Answer 4

if you get a rooot canal

boy do i feel bad for you!

Answer 5

Has the cavity been fixed?

If so and you have no problems Yes you can just get a crown.

If the cavity has not been fixed this will probably happen:

Since you stated it's a large cavity he will probably have to do some deep drilling to remove all the decay.

The deep drilling will more than likely damage the nerve inside the tooth.

Damaging the nerve will cause the tooth to abscess which will then require a root canal.

Here's what I would do:

Get the cavity fixed, wait couple weeks to see if the tooth flares up.

If after couple weeks the tooth is fine (not sensitive, not painful when chewing, intermittent pain)  then I would get the crown. At this point you should be ok.

Good Luck

Answer 6

The dentist will drill the tooth down to make room for a crown.  He will get rid of all the decay in the pre-crown process, so you shouldn't have to worry about further decay that would cause you to need a root canal.

Some people claim their teeth are sensitive after a crown, and some people say they never noticed a thing.  It's all in how your body is wired.  

Good luck!

Answer 7

My cousin chipped her tooth so bad that it needed a crown. It's not always the case that you need a crown for a root canal. But if you have such a large cavity I would think they should perform the root canal because you might be needing one in the near future.