Getting A Crown After Your Root Canal Is A Multi-Step Process

Dentist Blog

If you are planning on getting a root canal done, make sure that you also make plans to get a crown following your root canal. A crown will be used to replace the section of your tooth that was removed when the dentist drilled into your tooth to perform your root canal. You'll need a crown in order to protect the work that was done on your tooth. Here's how the process works.

You Will Not Get A Crown When You Get Your Root Canal

Most dentists will not start the process for a crown on the same day that they perform your root canal. If you go to an endodontist, who specializes in root canals, the vast majority will only perform the root canal procedure and will then send you back to your general dentist for the crown process.

Your general dentist or your endodontist will put a temporary filling into the hole they drilled in your tooth. This temporary filling will keep food and bacteria out of your tooth and give it some time to heal before a permanent crown is installed. 

Most dental professionals prefer to wait at least a week or two before they start the process for a crown in order to give your tooth time to heal. 

It Will Take At Least Two Appointments For You To Get Your Crown

Getting a crown is not a quick process. It will take at least two appointments in order for you to get fitted for your crown and in order to have the crown installed.

This Is What To Expect At The First Appointment

During your first appointment following your root canal, your dentist will inspect your tooth and make sure that it has healed properly. Then, your dentist will numb the area around your tooth. They are going to have to file down any rough spots on your tooth to prepare it for the crown. After that, your dentist is going to put a putty-like substance over your tooth. You will have to keep your mouth open while this substance dries. The putty will be used to create an impression for your new crown. This process can take a while, and you may be a little sore from having your mouth worked on for so long after your appointment

This Is What To Expect At The Second Appointment

In between your first and second appointment, your dentist will send off your dental impression so that a permanent crown can be made for your tooth. Your second appointment should not take as long as the first. During your second appointment, your dentist will set and install the crown. You should experience very mild discomfort during this appointment. 

After two appointments, your crown should be set in place and you should be ready to go. The whole process, from having your root canal procedure to getting your crown installed should take about three appointments over the course of a month. If you have any questions about how the procedures will work and overlap one another, be sure to ask your dentist. A professional from Centre Family Dentistry may be able to help with this process.

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1 July 2015

The Reasons Why You Should Get A Root Canal

Hi, my name is Kevin Nelson and I want to tell you about my experience. I had a painful tooth so I went to see my dentist. After the examination, he said that I needed to have a root canal to save the tooth. I told the dentist to just pull the tooth instead and then he explained why that wasn't a good idea. He said that pulling the tooth would cause additional problems and then he told me what could happen. I didn't want any more problems, so the dentist did the root canal and I'm glad that he did. I wanted to write a blog to tell others about the benefits of a root canal and what to expect during the procedure. I hope that by getting the word out, other people won't make the same mistake that I almost did by getting a perfectly good tooth pulled.