After Root Canal Treatment in Songpa-gu, Is a Crown Really Necessary?

Hello. I am Shin Seung-hwan, the director of Yonsei Uline Dental Clinic, Garak Branch, located in Garak-dong, Songpa-gu, near Garak Market Station.

Today, I will answer the question of whether a crown is absolutely necessary after root canal treatment or whether the tooth can simply be left as it is.

Root canal treatment is usually performed when a cavity is severe or a tooth is significantly fractured—in other words, when pain develops.

After treatment, the pain goes away, so some people may think:

“Paying for treatment right now is a burden. Can’t I just leave the tooth as it is?”

However, leaving the tooth untreated in this state can lead to several problems.

First, root canal treatment is performed when the tooth has already been weakened.

During the treatment process, an additional opening is made inside the tooth, and its height is also adjusted.

At this stage, the tooth is intentionally lowered by about 1.5–2 mm so that it does not come into contact with the opposing tooth. This is not done to damage the tooth unnecessarily. If the teeth touch during root canal treatment, the pain can be severe enough to make everyday activities difficult.

But what happens if the tooth is simply left in this lowered position without making contact?

Because teeth naturally tend to come into contact with one another, the opposing tooth may move downward or upward, changing its position.

When that happens, there may not be enough space for a crown later. This can lead to a situation in which the tooth has to be trimmed again, or even the upper tooth also has to be treated.

Second, if root canal treatment has been completed but no post has been placed and only temporary material has been used, the tooth can decay easily as time passes.

Temporary material may not last long and can also fall out.

Therefore, once root canal treatment is complete, a post should be placed and crown treatment should be completed as soon as possible so that the tooth can be used for a long time.

As time passes, there are many cases in which the tooth becomes unusable because it has already been damaged all the way to the root, even if root canal treatment is repeated or a post is placed.

In the end, if you have undergone root canal treatment, you should think of the treatment as not being complete until the tooth has also been fitted with a crown.

The most reliable way to protect the tooth is to complete the restorative treatment after root canal treatment.