When severe tooth pain or damage occurs, professional dental intervention is necessary to restore oral health and preserve natural tooth structure. Understanding common dental procedures like root canals and crowns helps address these issues effectively.
What is a Root Canal?
A root canal is a dental procedure designed to treat and save a tooth with infected or inflamed pulp. The pulp, located inside the tooth beneath the enamel and dentin, contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. When deep decay, repeated dental procedures, a crack, or trauma compromise the tooth, bacteria can enter and infect this soft tissue.
During the procedure, the dentist or an endodontist, a specialist in root canal treatment, creates a small opening in the crown of the tooth. Through this opening, the infected or damaged pulp is carefully removed from the pulp chamber and root canals. The internal chambers are then thoroughly cleaned, disinfected, and shaped.
After cleaning, the canals are filled with a biocompatible, rubber-like material called gutta-percha, often sealed with an adhesive cement. A temporary filling typically closes the opening until a permanent restoration is placed. This treatment effectively eliminates bacteria, prevents reinfection, and saves the natural tooth from extraction.
What is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown, also known as a dental cap, is a tooth-shaped covering placed over a damaged tooth. Its purpose is to restore the tooth’s original shape, size, strength, and improve its appearance. Crowns encase the entire visible portion of a tooth, fitting snugly over it like a hat.
Crowns are often necessary to protect a weak tooth from breaking, hold together parts of a cracked tooth, or restore a tooth that has been severely worn down or broken. They can also cover a large filling when there is insufficient natural tooth structure remaining. Additionally, crowns are used to cover dental implants or to improve the aesthetics of misshapen or discolored teeth.
Various materials are used to fabricate crowns, each offering different benefits in terms of durability and aesthetics. Common materials include porcelain, ceramic, metal alloys (such as gold), porcelain-fused-to-metal, and zirconia. The choice of material often depends on the tooth’s location, the patient’s preferences, and specific dental needs.
The Interplay: When Both Are Needed
While a root canal treats the internal infection and saves the tooth, the tooth often becomes weakened or brittle afterward. This can happen because the diseased pulp is removed, and sometimes a significant amount of tooth structure is lost due to decay or the access preparation during the procedure.
Consequently, a dental crown is frequently placed over a tooth that has undergone root canal therapy. The crown provides protection, encasing the treated tooth to prevent fracture and restore its full chewing function. This is important for back teeth, like molars and premolars, which endure considerable biting and chewing forces. The crown acts as a protective shield, reinforcing the fragile tooth structure and safeguarding it from further damage. Without this protective cap, the tooth might be vulnerable to cracking or breaking under normal biting pressure, potentially leading to tooth loss.
Identifying the Need for Treatment
Recognizing symptoms that indicate a dental problem is the first step toward seeking appropriate treatment. For a root canal, common signs include severe, persistent tooth pain, especially when chewing or applying pressure. Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures, even after the stimulus is removed, can also suggest pulp inflammation or infection.
Other indicators for a root canal may include tenderness or swelling in the gums around the affected tooth, the appearance of a pimple-like bump on the gums that might ooze pus, or darkening of the tooth. A chipped or cracked tooth can also expose the pulp, necessitating a root canal.
For a dental crown, visible cracks or chips, severe wear, or a failing large filling might indicate a need. A crown is also recommended after a root canal to protect the treated tooth.
A dental professional conducts a thorough examination, which includes reviewing the patient’s symptoms and dental history. Diagnostic tools such as X-rays are crucial for visualizing the internal tooth structure and surrounding bone, helping to accurately determine the extent of damage or infection.
Additional tests, such as sensitivity tests to hot, cold, or pressure, and vitality tests, assess the health of the tooth’s nerve and blood supply. Seeking prompt dental care when these symptoms arise is important for preserving the tooth and preventing more widespread issues.