Is crown work really necessary? i had to have an anterior root canal redone from 8 years ago. i had an apicoectomy. the dentist pointed out that the original work was only a filling, no crown work was done. part of my patient plan now includes crown work

Only : Only by clinical exam and an x-ray will you get the true answer to your question. Back teeth in general need some support after root canals to prevent fracture-not so for front teeth unless there are other factors such as appearance or weakened tooth structure. If you're not sure get a second opinion.

Your : Your best bet is to get a second opinion from a prosthodontist, which is the expert in cosmetic and restorative dentistry. In the front teeth, most times, a crown is not necessary. As a matter of fact, if the crown you get is of lower quality, it will give you more problems then you've had so far, and you are sure to lose a tooth in the next 10 years. Go and get a second opinion from the expert. www.gotoapro.org will have a link to an expert near you.

Just : Just remember that after a tooth had a root canal, the tooth will be weaker and more prone to fracture. In general, be extra careful with that tooth when biting into certain foods.

When : When the nerve is taken out of a tooth, the blood supply, oxygen, fluids everything is taken out. The tooth is cleaned and sealed, and that was eight years ago. There is nothing bringing nutrients to the tooth any longer, and it is gradually getting more an more brittle. We usually recommend that the tooth should be reinforced with a post within 5-7years by which time the brittleness will have in creased to the point where the tooth can no longer withstand the pressure of the bite. The tooth then needs reinforcing with a post and a crown. Your dentist has made the recommendation, and mine is that you take his advice. You can not allow insurance to influence the quality of your healthcare particularly when it comes to dentistry. Dr neil mcleod dds dentistry that lasts - quality that counts.