The benefits of a dental crown after a root canal treatment.

Last time, we went over what to expect from your root canal treatment. However, there’s still one more important step. Most root canal procedures require dental crown placement afterward to support bite strength and lasting oral health.

Crowns are used in many cases where a tooth needs additional strength and integrity, including after root canal treatment. They provide a long-term solution to protect your natural teeth. Here are four things you need to know about getting a dental crown after your root canal treatment.

1. Dental crowns protect the integrity of your natural teeth.

The purpose of your root canal treatment is to save your natural tooth. The decay or injury that has affected your tooth puts it at serious risk of infection. The only alternative to root canal treatment is extraction, which you want to avoid whenever possible.

While root canal treatment can save your natural tooth, it can impact the strength and integrity of the tooth. A dental crown solves this problem. The root canal treatment requires creating a large opening in the tooth’s chewing surface to access the tissue inside, and that hole needs to be dealt with afterward.

Your family dentist in Boise, Idaho, will fill the tooth with specialized dental material and place a filling on top. This filling provides lasting protection but doesn’t serve as a suitable biting or chewing surface; the material may not hold up in the long run when it covers the entire chewing surface.

A dental crown restores the tooth’s exterior, replacing it with strong and durable material that stands up to biting and chewing.

2. How traditional dental crown placement works.

Today, you can choose among a variety of crown placement processes that might be right for your needs. Traditional dental crown placement delivers excellent results but can also extend your treatment timeline. While there’s no doubt about the quality they provide, many patients ask, “How long do crowns take using the traditional method?”

The traditional crown process requires multiple visits. First, your dentist prepares your tooth by trimming away some enamel to provide a solid and uniform base. After this, your dentist takes physical impressions. Dental trays are filled with a special putty and pressed against your teeth to create an impression that captures every detail.

The impression is then shipped to a dental lab, who will create your custom dental crown. These labs use materials, such as porcelain, that require special equipment and expertise. This means that you’ll have to wait for your final crown, a process that will take several weeks.

In the meantime, you’ll have a temporary crown placed to protect the prepared tooth. This ensures the prepared tooth isn’t damaged and also makes it less conspicuous in your smile. However, the temporary crown isn’t a perfect match and is only worn while waiting for your final crown.

3. Same day CEREC crowns make the process simple.

Modern dental technology allows some patients to receive a different type of crown. CEREC crowns are made in your dentist’s office and can be ready the very same day, avoiding the need for a temporary crown. Whether you’re a candidate for same day crowns depends on which tooth is being treated, among other factors.

CEREC crowns do away with physical impressions, which some patients find unpleasant. Instead, the latest 3D imaging technology creates a high-resolution scan of your mouth. This scan is then used to plan your dental crown placement and provide data for an automated mill, which makes your dental crown a perfect match.

4. The benefits of same day crowns.

You might think that you would have to compromise on quality for the convenience of same day crowns, but you don’t. These crowns are made of strong ceramic material that ensures lasting protection for your tooth, standing up to the everyday strains of biting and chewing.

Same day crowns are also appealing and natural-looking. The shade is carefully matched to your natural smile, and the shape is created with incredible precision. You can walk out of our office with a beautiful smile that very day.

Overall, same day CEREC crowns provide a variety of benefits over traditional crowns. The faster and more convenient process means less time in the dentist’s chair and prevents the need for a temporary crown. If a same day crown is suitable for your case, it could be just what you’re looking for.

Ensuring Lasting Oral Health

Staley Dental is your family dentist in Boise, Idaho, when you need root canal treatment or other important care. We’ll carefully develop your unique treatment plan, including custom dental crown placement for a beautiful and strong smile. Schedule your appointment today to see if CEREC same day crowns are right for you.