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mrtexas · May 7, 2007, 11:27 AM

I had a root canal done about 3 weeks ago and today I found out that my dentist wants to put a cown on it. I an asking if this is truly needed for the cost is over $500 and I just paid $450 for the root canal.

labman · May 7, 2007, 12:39 PM

A lot of it depends on the shape the tooth is in. If it had a large filling that has already been replaced before, you may really need a cap. If the dentist can make a good enough case for it for any insurance you may have to cover it, it may be the best idea. Most of my teeth have had the fillings replaced time after time. Now my current dentist is capping them as the old fillings go bad. Caps last indefinitely. I am starting work on a 3 tooth bridge Wednesday. It should eliminate the fillings in 2 teeth and replace a third tooth.

AW805 · May 11, 2007, 10:10 PM

Yes, you will need a crown on it. I assume the dentist put a filling in the tooth, which would have been just a temporary filling. Because of the nerves being removed, the tooth will become somewhat brittle and could crack leaving you susceptible to infection or an abscess. Hence, a crown to protect the tooth.

This happened to me. Only I wasn't told I needed a crown. I went several years with a temporary filling in my tooth until one day out of nowhere and without any warning I was in extreme pain in the middle of the night. The next morning, I had to have oral surgery to remove the tooth and small piece of bone from my jaw. I had developed an abscess and because of the root canal, I couldn't feel the pain until it hit my jaw.

Oral surgery is not cheap. So consider the price of a crown as a preventative measure.