Can You Have a Root Canal on a Crowned Tooth?

Tooth infections cause severe pain, sensitivity, and discomfort. When you go to the endodontist near you for treatment, they will do a root canal and place a crown on the tooth. However, in some cases, you may have an infection on a tooth with an existing crown. Read on to learn if you can have root canal treatment on the crowned tooth.

What Are Dental Crowns?

Dental crowns are tooth-like caps dentists place on teeth to repair or improve their appearance. They are customized to fit over an existing natural tooth and resemble nearby teeth for uniformity. Crowns can be made from porcelain, ceramic, metal alloys, or zirconium. Your dentist will choose a material suitable for your dental issue and smile.

The dentist in phoenix may use a crown to restore a fractured, broken, or decayed tooth. They may use a tooth-colored crown to improve the appearance of a discolored or stained tooth. In addition, the expert may place a crown on a tooth after a root canal. It strengthens the tooth and prevents further damage and infection.

What Is Root Canal Treatment?

Your tooth contains root canals located behind your gums. They have a dental pulp with nerves and small blood vessels which nourish the tooth. When the tooth has a large cavity or suffers severe trauma, bacteria enter the pulp, causing infection. Therefore, you will have tooth sensitivity, pain, and discomfort.

The experts at the dental office in Phoenix, AZ, treat tooth infections through a root canal procedure. It involves accessing the dental pulp and clearing the infected and dead tissues. After, the dentist will place a crown on the tooth for protection and stability.

Can a Crowned Tooth Become Infected?

Yes, a crowned tooth can become infected. A root canal covers the part of a tooth above the gums, protecting it from decay or cavities. However, a small part of the tooth shows near the gum line after placement. When you do not maintain proper oral hygiene, plaque accumulates on the portion, causing decay. After a while, cavities form on the tooth leading to infections.

A crowned tooth is protected from the pressure of chewing or biting. However, a crown can break or fracture after a severe dental injury. When this happens, the tooth and roots beneath the crown can become damaged. As a result, you may get an infection inside the tooth.

A tooth that has undergone a previous root canal treatment can become re-infected. The reinfection can occur if the dentist misses an infected canal during treatment. It can also happen if the seal around the tooth placed to protect it is inadequate. Another cause of reinfection is a delay between the treatment and crown placement.

Can You Have Root Canal Treatment on a Crowned Tooth?

It is possible for the endodontist at ESP Dental to perform a root canal on a crowned tooth. However, not all teeth with crowns can receive treatment. A dentist must assess the tooth to determine if it can benefit from the procedure.

For instance, if the decay or damage in the tooth is too advanced, they will not perform the treatment. Instead, they will extract the tooth and replace it with a false one. So, schedule an appointment with us for a root canal on your crowned tooth.

What Does a Root Canal on a Crowned Tooth Involve?

Experts at the Phoenix dental office offer two options to treat an infected crowned tooth. They may remove the crown before treating the infection. Alternatively, the dentist may drill an access hole through the crown and treat the infection.

Once the dentist determines the best treatment plan, they will create a small hole in the tooth. The hole will enable them to reach the dental pulp and clear out the infected, damaged, and dead tissues. The dentist will clean the area with an antibacterial solution to treat the infection. They will place medicine on the canals if necessary to eliminate all bacteria.

Afterwards, they will use a unique material to fill and seal the gap inside the tooth. It will help prevent reinfection inside the tooth. If they had removed the crown, they would fabricate a new one and place it on the tooth. Also, if they had drilled through the old crown, it may have been damaged during the procedure. Therefore they will fabricate a new one.