The tooth will have to undergo a root canal treatment. In such cases, your dentist will attempt a root canal through the crown. They do it just like they would over a natural crown – by drilling a hole through it and accessing the
Performing a Root Canal on a Crowned Tooth
The dentist can perform the root canal through the crown or remove the crown before performing the root canal. Next, the dentist will remove the damaged or decayed parts of the tooth and then use your existing crown or a new one to cover the tooth.
There is a statistic that 5% to 7% of teeth that receive crown restorations end up needing root canal treatment. That means that 93% or more don't need root canal. The reason that this happens sometimes is that crowns in most cases are placed on teeth that are filled heavily in the first place.
It may be possible for your dentist to remove your crown before performing your endodontic treatment. Removing a tooth's dental crown before its root canal therapy is performed, and then recementing it afterward, can be an excellent plan.
It is very challenging to remove dental cement with dental crowns. For this, the dentists tend to gently move the crown until the adhesive seal is wholly broken. Although dental cement removal is a painless procedure, it requires a slow evaluation of your oral health conditions.
The procedure is relatively painless, but it should be noted that replacing it multiple times could affect the overall health of the tooth –increasing the chance of needing a root canal in the future.
However, what patients may not know is that tooth decay under a dental crown is still possible. Like natural teeth, not maintaining proper oral hygiene and allowing bacteria and plaque to accumulate is why tooth decay under a dental crown is an issue.
Root Canals Aren't Possible with Severe Infection
If the deepest layers of the pulp become infected, it may be too late to save the tooth. In addition, if a large portion of the tooth is lost and a crown cannot be placed on what's left, root canal treatment is no longer a viable solution.
While it does not happen very often, it is possible for a tooth to still get infected after undergoing a root canal procedure.
What causes tooth crown pain? Infection – patients who have dental crown procedures that have also not previously undergone a root canal, means that their tooth still has roots. If a crown is applied incorrectly or is the wrong size, it can put pressure on the nerve and roots of the tooth, which can lead to infection.
In most cases, root canal therapy is a better way to treat an infected tooth than an extraction. However, there are exceptions, such as if the tooth has suffered extreme damage. Your dentist will carefully analyze your oral health before making a treatment recommendation.
Unless you also underwent a root canal before crown placement, those nerves are still active and susceptible to injury and infection. The crown itself can begin to put increasing pressure on an exposed or traumatized nerve, and this too can lead to infection.
Tooth decay under the crown
Because the tooth under the dental crown is still alive, tooth decay or a new cavity can form at the border of the tooth and the crown. This can lead to persistent pain in the area. If a tooth cavity grows large enough and affects the nerve, you might need a root canal procedure.
We will determine the proper method of targeting the infection after finding the problem. An average root canal takes about 30 – 90 minutes to complete. The intensity of the case will dictate how long it will take for Dr. Knight to complete the root canal.
Treatment for an Infection
Treatment for decay or infection below a crown may entail: Removing the existing crown. Addressing the decay by filling or extracting the remainder of the tooth. Creating a new crown to accommodate the filling and what remains of the tooth.
Root canal treatment may not be performed if a tooth has cracked or is poorly embedded in the jawbone.
What are the dangers? The bacteria that is left behind during a Root Canal can cause many health problems. While certain bacteria is common in the mouth, when it has led to an infection it becomes dangerous. Some of the conditions that may occur include malaise, inflammation and abscess in the head or neck.
If you wait a long time to undergo a root canal, bacteria will attack the tip of the tooth's root, causing serious bone loss. Such bone loss can result in tooth loss.
Fixing a Cavity Under a Dental Crown
If a cavity is along the margin of a dental crown and does not go very deep into the tooth, it might be able to be fixed with normal dental filling material. In most other cases, the dental crown probably will need to be removed, the cavity filled, and a new crown placed on top.
Dentists can repair damaged crowns with composite resin in certain cases. However, if the damage is too severe or if they are not properly equipped to restore the crown, then a new crown may need to be installed.
Any pain or swelling that you notice can be an indicator of either a faulty crown or improper placement. These can also be warning signs of an infection. Thus, any discomfort or inflammation should be brought to your dentist's attention.
In some situations the original crown can be removed and re-cemented into place. New crowns might be required to meet your objectives for a healthy and beautiful smile. This new crowns are fabricated in the same way the as the original.
The safest and least traumatic means of removing a cemented crown is to destroy it by cutting a slot and prying it out, thereby avoiding procedures that could harm the underlying tooth.
Coronectomy is a technique used for wisdom teeth surgery where only the crown is extracted and the root/roots are left in situ. This procedure may be controversial, but it could limit the common risks of the extraction procedure.