A root canal is a common dental procedure done to treat a badly infected tooth or a large cavity.
But if your tooth is currently protected by a dental crown, you might wonder how this will affect your treatment.
Keep reading to find out whether a root canal can be done through a dental crown.
How Does a Root Canal Work?
Root canal therapy involves drilling the tooth to reveal all the decay and infected tissue. By using special tools, a dentist will remove all bacteria and impacted pulp, including anything down the narrow chambers of the root, also known as the canals.
In the process, the tooth will lose a lot of tissue and even its nerves. Still, this procedure helps prevent a tooth extraction, which is the last-resort option when the infection is too severe.
Once the tooth is clean, the area is disinfected and the dentist begins to seal and reconstruct it, either through a filling or dental crown. This will come down to how much tooth tissue was lost during the Cookeville root canal.
What Happens If the Infected Tooth Has a Dental Crown?
If your tooth is currently protected by a dental crown, don’t worry. There may be a way to treat it without removing the crown.
The dentist can attempt to drill the crown just as they would do with a regular tooth. If they are able to reveal all the infected tissue, the root canal proceeds as usual, and the crown is subsequently reconstructed with a filling.
Your dentist may also try to dislodge the crown and re-cement it after your root canal is done.
Unfortunately, there are limitations to these methods. The crown may become damaged during drilling or removal, and if it’s extensive, you will need to get a new one.
Sometimes, even if the crown withstands drilling, the dentist still might not have a clear view of the tooth, and removal will still be necessary.
Aren’t Dental Crowns Supposed to Prevent Tooth Infections?
Yes, dental crowns normally protect your natural teeth from bacteria, and subsequently from developing cavities and infections.
But, crowns are not unbeatable. They can fail to do their jobs because of:
- Poor oral hygiene which leads to bacteria accumulating around and under the crown
- Damage to the crown, such as a crack or chip, which leaves the tooth exposed
- A dental crown that doesn’t fit your tooth properly, etc.
In these cases, the crown will unfortunately not protect your tooth.
How Dogwood Family Dental Can Help
If you have a sharp toothache and may need a root canal, Dr. Taylor Enochs Engler is here to help with expert oral health services.
Even if you have a dental crown in place, schedule a consultation at Dogwood Family Dental online to get your tooth properly treated.
Call us at (931) 528-6536 for more information.
