A root canal and a dental crown are two distinct dental treatments that often work together to save a damaged tooth, but they serve fundamentally different purposes. A root canal is a therapeutic procedure focused on treating infection and disease inside the tooth’s structure. The crown is a restorative device that acts as a protective cover for the outside of the tooth. Simply put, one cleans and disinfects the interior, while the other reinforces and protects the exterior.
Understanding the Root Canal Procedure
A root canal procedure eliminates infection and inflammation from the innermost part of the tooth, known as the dental pulp. The pulp is soft tissue located within the root canals, containing nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. When deep decay, a crack, or trauma allows bacteria to reach the pulp, it becomes infected, often causing pain and leading to a dental abscess.
The treatment saves the natural tooth structure by removing the diseased or dead pulp tissue. The dentist or a specialist called an endodontist creates a small access opening through the top of the tooth. Using specialized instruments, the infected material is carefully removed from the pulp chamber and root canals.
The hollowed-out interior is then thoroughly cleaned, disinfected, and shaped. It is filled with a biocompatible, rubber-like material called gutta-percha. A sealing material is placed over the gutta-percha to prevent bacteria from re-entering. This process treats the internal disease, allowing the tooth to remain without extraction.
Understanding the Dental Crown
A dental crown is a custom-made, tooth-shaped cap placed completely over a tooth to restore its size, shape, strength, and appearance. It is a restorative measure that focuses on the tooth’s external structure. The crown covers the entire visible portion of the tooth above the gum line.
Crowns are recommended when the tooth’s outer structure is compromised but the pulp remains healthy. This includes teeth with large, failing fillings or those that have suffered a fracture. Severe wear from grinding or the desire for cosmetic enhancement of a discolored or misshapen tooth are also common reasons for placement.
The crown procedure requires the dentist to first prepare the existing tooth by shaping and reducing its size to ensure the new cap will fit snugly without interfering with the patient’s bite. An impression is then taken and sent to a lab, where the crown is fabricated from materials such as porcelain, ceramic, metal alloys, or a combination of these. The choice of material balances aesthetic needs with the required strength for chewing.
The Combined Necessity
The relationship between these two treatments is that a root canal procedure often compromises the structural integrity of the tooth, making a crown necessary. A tooth requiring a root canal has typically suffered extensive damage from decay or trauma before the procedure even begins. Furthermore, removing the pulp and creating an access opening removes a significant amount of the tooth’s natural structure.
Once the pulp tissue is removed, the tooth no longer receives the same internal moisture and nourishment. This causes the remaining dentin to become brittle over time. The treated tooth is then susceptible to cracking or fracturing from normal biting and chewing forces. Without external reinforcement, the tooth may fail, potentially requiring extraction.
The crown acts as a protective helmet, covering the entire tooth and holding the weakened structure together to distribute chewing force evenly. For back teeth like molars and premolars, which bear the brunt of the chewing pressure, a crown is almost always recommended to prevent failure. This external protection ensures the long-term success and survival of the tooth following the internal treatment.
In essence, the root canal saves the tooth by removing the infection, while the crown provides the necessary structural defense. The crown also seals the access opening used for the root canal, preventing future bacterial contamination. The crown is the restoration that ensures the tooth can function normally for many years afterward.