Do I Need a Crown After Root Canal Treatment?
After root canal treatment, patients are often told that a crown may be recommended to protect the tooth. This can raise questions, especially if the tooth feels comfortable and looks unchanged on the surface.
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This page explains when a crown is commonly discussed after root canal treatment and how dentists usually approach this decision.
Why This Question Comes Up
Root canal treatment addresses infection or inflammation inside the tooth, but it does not replace tooth structure that has already been lost. Many teeth that require root canal treatment have been weakened by decay, cracks, or previous restorations before treatment even begins.
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Because the tooth may feel comfortable once symptoms settle, it is not always obvious why additional protection is discussed. Understanding how root canal–treated teeth behave under everyday biting forces helps clarify why a crown is sometimes recommended and why the decision is not the same for every tooth.