Dental crowns today serve a wide variety of purposes, from improving a tooth’s appearance to restoring its ability to function properly. In some cases, a crown can even serve as the finishing touch to a more involved restorative procedure, such as root canal treatment. When your tooth is threatened by severe, internal infection, root canal therapy can save your tooth by removing the infectious bacteria and afflicted tooth structure. Then, a dental crown can reinforce the tooth so that you can once again bite, chew, and smile fully and confidently.  

What Root Canal Treatment Entails

Root canal treatment, or endodontic treatment, is designed specifically for teeth that experience decay in the pulp, or center chamber. Similar to a filling, which addresses decay in the main structure (dentin) of your tooth, root canal treatment’s purpose is to stop infection from spreading while protecting and preserving your healthy tooth structure. This includes removing the infected nerves and blood vessels in the tooth’s pulp and the root canal connected to it, which may leave your tooth structurally weaker.

Why a Crown May Be Necessary

After root canal treatment, your tooth can’t heal the structure that was affected. Therefore, your dentist may suggest preserving what remains of the tooth with a custom-designed dental crown, which can fit over the tooth to protect it from further damage. With a crown, you can ensure the success of your root canal treatment by ensuring that the tooth remains strong and healthy long after the decay has been removed.

Learn More About the Benefits of a Dental Crown

After root canal treatment to save your tooth from severe decay, we can preserve the long-term integrity of the tooth by capping it with a durable, lifelike dental crown. To learn more, schedule a consultation with Dr. Burds by calling Gateway Dental Group in downtown Des Moines, IA, at (515) 244-9565.