Types of Dental Crowns: Which Crown is Best After Root Canal?

After a root canal, the structural integrity of your tooth becomes weak. That is why getting a crown on your treated tooth is crucial. The requirement of a cap after the procedure usually depends on the tooth location in the mouth. For example, your back teeth are essential for chewing food. So, they need crowns. But canines or incisors are not made for chewing. Therefore, they do not always need dental caps. Dental crowns can be manufactured using diverse materials like resin, porcelain, metal, etc.

How Long Do I Need to Wait to Receive a Crown After RCT?

After root canal therapy, you must get a crown within a few months. But, sometimes your tooth nerves take more time (one year) to fully.

Why is Dental Crown Crucial After the Procedure?

After a root canal, it’s not a good idea to leave it exposed for longer. It is where the importance of crowns comes in. A root canal treatment eliminates the infected or decayed pulp tissue from the root canal system. Dental crowns near you are replacement teeth that mask the root canal. These artificial dental caps offer long-term protection to the tooth against the loss of support by the cementum and further tooth decay.

Types of Crowns for Root-Canaled Tooth

Let us discover the different types of ​dental crowns in West Palm Beach used on the canaled tooth:

Zirconia Crowns

Zirconia crowns have high strength. Therefore, there is minimal risk of wearing down, cracking, or chipping the material. They are also popular when it comes to aesthetics.

Pros of Zirconia Crowns

• These crowns are biocompatible because they are metal free and do not cause metal allergies.
• The treatment takes less time because the dentist cuts and shapes the zirconia at the same clinic.
• Zirconia crowns have less chance of breaking or cupping because they are strong.
• They have excellent aesthetic properties.

Cons of Zirconia Crowns

• Solid zirconia can be hard to adjust.
• They can easily wear down.

• Porcelain Crowns

Porcelain crowns are the most commonly used dental caps for root-canaled teeth. The dentist can resemble their shade with your remaining teeth to make them appear natural. They usually last for longer when you care for them properly.

Pros of Porcelain Crowns

• They are ideal for front teeth.
• They give the most natural appearance.
• These crowns are biocompatible.

Cons of Porcelain Crowns 

• These crowns are expensive when compared to other types.
• They require maintenance to make them last longer.

• PFM Crowns

Porcelain fused with metal dental crowns are popular due to their aesthetics and metal structure. They are usually a blend of porcelain and metal.

Pros of PFM Crowns

• They are best for the back and front teeth.
• They are affordable and non for their excellent lifespan and aesthetics.

Cons of PFM Crowns

• These crowns are not suitable for people that clench/grind their teeth.
• The metal in them can create a black or gray lining at the gum line.

• Gold Dental Crowns

Gold dental crowns are your dental cap manufactured using a combination of copper and chromium or nickel. They are typically suitable at the back of the mouth because they are long-lasting and strong.

Pros of Gold Dental Crowns

• These crowns are strong, highly resistant, and durable.
• The dentist near you needs to eliminate less portion of your tooth by adding them in the mouth.

Cons of Gold Dental Crowns

• Due to their color, they are not a preferred option by many people because they do not appear like teeth.
• Sometimes gold alloy dental crowns can cause swelling or allergic reactions.

Which Crown is Best for Root Canal Teeth?

Each crown has its own advantages and disadvantages. The dentist at John S. Ledakis, DDS, PA, decides what is best for you, depending on your unique dental health needs and personal preferences.

Teeth Capping Process

• Firstly, the doctor will numb the region around the tooth. He/she eliminates the leftover healthy structure of the tooth.
• Now, he/she will prepare the tooth to create a proper fit for a crown. It involves shaping and smoothing out the surface area using a drill. The preparation also involves eliminating additional tissue using an electric scaler machine and an antibacterial agent.
• The dental professional shapes the teeth model and gum line to create a personalized fit.
• Finally, he/she sends that model to the lab to create a new crown.