Necessary to do root canal for all roots before crowning?

[aamixy]

Hi All, I am new here and hope I can get some opinion for this tricky question.

My father is 81 year old and he's just done root canal for Tooth No. 15 (a molar). The other doctor who will do the subsequent crowning told my father that only one of the three roots in the molar has been treated with root canal. He suggested to do the root canal on the other two roots too. His reasoning is that if after the crown, there is something wrong with the molar, it would be complicated to treat with the crown. But our thinking is that those two roots are currently looking fine, if done root canal, the molar would be a completely "dead" teeth", which doesn't seem to be good. And there seems no problem with them right now. Should those two roots really be treated with root canal, or they can be left there intact before the crown? In addition, the doctor said he can do the root canal with a newer technology, which only requires ONE office visit, rather than the traditional multiple office visits. We are really not sure if the newer technology would be any better. Thank you very much for your suggestion/advice!!!

[aamixy]

Thanks. Right now there is only one root that has been treated. Do we need to redo that one with the other two roots? Thanks!

[scottma]

Upper second molar generally has three roots, if root canal treatment is indicated, all three roots have to be well treated, otherwise, there will be apical lesion sometime later on. Seeing an endodontist for detailed consultation is advised.