Question:
My husband just had a dentist recommend he get several root canals,
posts and crowns. A year ago a different dentist also recommended
some crowns (mostly on the same teeth) but DIDN'T mention anything
about root canals. I know I've had a couple of teeth crowned that
didn't have root canal. I'm wondering if there is a valid reason to
have a root canal on a tooth that is to be crowned. What are root
canals for anyway? If they tend to make teeth brittle...why would you
have one if you weren't experiencing any pain?
Answer:
Needing a crown doesn't mean you need a root canal. Needing a root canal
does mean you'll need a crown.
(Although some people have the root canal and do live quite well without
actually crowning the tooth.)
The following isn't medical advise, nor should it be interpreted as such.
It's just based on my experience in having way too many fingers in my mouth
over the years.
If a tooth has a cavity or some other problem, they first try to grind away
the rotten part under the enamel and fill it with silver amalgam or some
other material. If the cavity is too deep to do this, the next trick is to
grind it all away and cover the tooth with a crown. If the cavity is deeper
still, or has deteriorated the tooth to the point where the insides (pulp or
nerve) are exposed, there's no way to seal it back up. That's where a root
canal comes in.
In a root canal, they cut away the top surface of the tooth, drill down into
the pulp, and then pick and suck everything out of the middle. This is
supposed to include the nerve and all of the tissue inside the tooth.
The now-hollow tooth is filled up with some stuff called gutta-percha that
looks like little tiny rubber tooth picks. The whole tooth is supposed to be
packed full of this stuff and then it's sealed up at the top. After this a
crown is put on and glued down to the remainder of the tooth.
In my experience, about half-way through the procedure, the guy says, "Wow,
there's a little crack in this tooth and that may cause problems later."
This has happened on three different teeth with different doctors, so I
believe that they say it just for CYA value. Then, every single time, the
root canals last for about 3-5 years, then the whole process gets started
all over again.
I have one that's "failed" 3 times.
On one particular tooth, in the front, primarily for vanity and appearance
sake, I had the tooth pulled and an implant put in.
IMHO, implants are the way to go if you're having to pay for this on your
own. They're about 30% more expensive than a root canal, but in my
experience, they're permanent, and there's no "oops" thing to come back
later. If you have dental insurance, then try to push them to pay for the
implant. Most won't, but some are coming around.
Others may have different experiences and if that's your case, then reply to
the OP, but don't flame me if you don't agree with what I've already said
are just my experiences.
Root canal therapy is for treating infections, which can occur in the
pulp and in the bone under the root. If there is such an infection (it
can be seen on X-ray), most dentists will recommend root canal even if
it is not causing any symptoms. It can do nasty things at an
inconvenient time, like flare up or spread, if left in place. It has a
way of doing that when you're stressed out and can ill afford the time
and cost of several long visits to the dentist, too.
There is no good reason to do root canal work when a healthy tooth is
being crowned. But if the tooth has already abscessed, it's probably
prudent.
He ought to find out why his dentist thinks the root canal work is
needed; then he can make his own informed decision.
I think you need a better dentist. The guy who did the root canal on my
Tooth From Hell was an instructor at the USC dental school and it's lasted
for over 25 years.
