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sally_1 · Jan 25, 2010, 09:36 AM

I had got my root canal done, but I have to get a crown on it.I just wanted to know how long a tooth can stay if it does not have a crown on it?

saurabh_unicon · Jan 25, 2010, 11:29 AM

Hi,

I suggest you get the crown fixed at earliest, as after the root canal the tooth is not as strong, especially the filling where the root was dug. Your dentist will insist that you get the crown done immediately and that is the only correct manner.

The root canal may not prove effective and can be exposed again for infections. Any dentist or any patient gone through root canal and postponing crown fixing will tell you the same thing.

flossie · Jan 25, 2010, 04:35 PM

There is no time frame that a tooth that has had a root canal will last without a crown. Once the nerve is out of the tooth it becomes quite brittle and will easily break. The unfortunate thing that can happen is that when the tooth breaks it breaks vertically along the roots which makes it impossible to fix.

If the tooth has not given you any problems since the root canal was done it's best to get the crown placed as soon as possible.

Amir1981 · Jan 25, 2010, 06:20 PM

The main reason root canaled teeth break is due to the loss of massive amounts of tooth structure due to decay, fillings, and the root canal process itself. Almost ALL back teeth (past the canine tooth) require crowns after root canals. Most front teeth don't. Your best bet for a back tooth is a full gold crown after a root canal

flossie · Jan 25, 2010, 07:05 PM

Sally,

A full gold crown is great for lower molars (no one can usually see these teeth when you talk or smile) but for an upper molar you can have 3/4 gold with porcelain on the cheek side so that when you smile people will see tooth colour.