I recently had a root canal, but am unable to afford the crown. how long do i have until i loose the tooth? my root canal was at the end of feb. i had a temporary filling, but my insurance ran out before i could pay for the crown.

There : There is no way to know how long you can go without some protective restoration on the tooth. It depends on the forces the tooth is subjected to and how much tooth structure was removed in treating the decay and completing the root canal. A temporary filling will not protect the tooth. Discuss you situation with your dentist to see if there are accommodations that can be made to allow you to get a crown or if he can refer you elsewhere. Remember, if the tooth fractures that can lead to a dental emergency due to pain or infection necessitating immediate treatment. When you factor in an extraction (and any other emergency treatment) along with replacement for the missing tooth you may be facing a bigger cost.

The : The answer depends on the quality of the seal on to of the root canal treatment. Studies show that if root canal treatment is completed, but not sealed with a crown, or a proper restoration, filling, it can get reinfected within three weeks. Since you didn't provide much information as to the seal on top of the rct, you need to go back and talk to your dentist.

No : No one knows for sure, but if the tooth fractures due to lack of blood supply, it may very well cause you to lose your tooth. See if you can work out an arrangement to pay for your crown to avoid this scenario.

That : That would depend on which tooth it was, the condition of the tooth itself, and your bite. A tooth that is in the front of the mouth that does not contact any teeth when you bite could last many years without a crown. A tooth in the back of the mouth like a molar that you bite against and had a large cavity and/or multiple fillings in it prior to having root can break in a few weeks. You need to see your dentist and talk to him or her about your situation. If the tooth is vulnerable, you may be able to have a temporary crown made to protect the tooth for several months until you can afford the permanent crown.

Clarify: Just to add to the confusion...Dentists have a very specific notion of what a temporary filling is and many patients use the term fairly broadly. If it truly is a temp filling, it needs to be sealed with an appropriate filling anyway before a crown is fabricated. If temporary in this case means sealed but not yet crowned, you may be ok. Verify the seal status with the treating dentist.