Long-term result of root-canal

[somerandomguy]

Hello,
I had a root-canal on a molar about 3 years ago when I was 18. The surgery was successful, and I've been taking good care of my teeth ever since. My question is: Even if I never bite anything harder than apples, will that tooth still fracture without a crown as the tooth gets more brittle and worn?
Thanks so much for keeping this forum up!

[Matthew Baron, D.M.D.]

I am a believer in putting crowns on molars that have had root canal treatment.  I have seen too many teeth that have fractured beyond repair due to not having the full coverage of a crown.   I would have to see the tooth and how much tooth structure was removed to do the root canal in order to say definitively if the tooth should have a crown.

[pertykitty]

i was an RDA for 18 years. to have a root canal without a crown is kinda like changing your oil without replacing the filter. you took care of the old oil, but the filter can ultimatly cause the problem. ok maybe that wasnt the best scenario! lol. anyway yes your tooth becomes more brittle after. you NEED to place a crown on the tooth. apples usually wont break a tooth, but im sure you eat nuts or popcorn or other crunchy things that could crack a tooth. you can crack a tooth beyond saving. im sure your dds recommended having a post and core (strengthens the tooth) then place a crown on it. there are great crowns now that look so real if that is a concern (would be with me). you never stated which tooth it was that had this problem. id take care of it now before something happens. also be aware  (as i remember so many didnt know) you can develop new decay in a root canal tooth. keep up the good oral hygiene, get a crown and then you dont have to worry about it! best of luck

[mike1105]

the tooth needs a crown. you are only 21 years old. i am a dentist. if i were you, i'd have the crown made out of yellow gold. it is impossible to break, it feels like a tooth, and it requires minimal drilling when compared with crowns that are tooth colored. i have 3 gold crown in my mouth. If the gold bothers you esthetically, you can get a porcelain fused to metal crown or a full porcelain crown but they require more tooth reduction (drilling) and i can almost guarantee they will not last as long as a full gold crown. the worst thing you can do though, is nothing. I am confident in saying that at some point the tooth will crack. probably soomer than you hope.

[pertykitty]

gold is stronger, but mike you are not 21! haha. there is a newer crown out called a cerec. it is a great material. not only do you need just one visit for the making of it and seating it, it wears like your own tooth structure. yes porc. crowns can chip, they may  not last as long as gold, its really a matter of how it looks to you. whatever you do dont go with a stainless steel crown (most dds wouldnt do them anyway i bet) out of cost. they do not seal well and will cause more harm than good. ok now get out there and do it!

[johnlayton]

I agree with mike and pertykitty, especially on avoid using stainless steel crowns, which can lead to complete tooth decay.
You are 21 now, and suppose you spend on average 3 hours a day eating, after 60 years you'll have spent 60000-70000 hours chewing. Assuming that you never bite anything harder than apples, never clench the tooth, and always practice good oral hygiene, then it's safe to say that tooth, though brittle, will never fracture. However, the crown is like the airbag in the car, even a good driver wouldn't want to drive without it. Nonetheless, getting a crown does involve potential risks, both in the short and long run; if you can take ultra-good care of your teeth, the risks are not worth taking.

[somerandomguy]

Thanks so much everyone for your comments!

[mike1105]

there is really negligible risk in having a crown on a root canaled tooth. it's way more risky to do nothing. gold is the best material bar none, for crowns, if the esthetics can be tolerated. ceramics can crack, gold can't. ceramics require more tooth reduction.  agree a material like cerec is the next best choice. the porcelain technolgy in dentistry has come a long way. but it's still porcelain.

[heydelores]

Just out of curiosity, how much do gold crowns tend to cost in the US?

[mike1105]

vairies greatly on the state. could be 600-800 in some rural states, up to 1500-2k in places like NYC

[kaykow]

A related discussion, root canals brittle teeth was started.