Root canals and dental crowns are common dental procedures that are used to protect your damaged teeth. When these two treatments are done together, they can restore the health and function of the infected and damaged teeth.
Residents of cities like Brookhaven, GA, aka Georgia, are in luck with the community of many skilled dentists. Getting a root canal or a dental crown in Brookhaven, GA, is an easier task for most of the nearby residents.
Additionally, knowing more about these procedures can help you make correct choices about dental care. Here is a detailed look at root canals, dental crowns, and the difference between their costs and procedures!
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What are the differences between dental crowns and root canals?
Even though they are usually done together, root canals and dental crowns both play different roles when it comes to dental health. Here are a few differences between dental crowns and root canals –
Root Canals:
A root canal procedure is done to treat the inside of the tooth. When the tooth’s pulp, which contains blood vessels and nerves, becomes infected, a root canal has to be done. While performing the root canal treatment, the dentist removes the damaged pulp and cleans the inside of the tooth.
Next, they fill the tooth with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha. This procedure protects the tooth from getting damaged in the future. After the root canal treatment is done, the next step that needs to be performed is attaching a dental crown to the tooth to strengthen it.
Dental Crowns:
A dental crown is placed on a damaged tooth to restore its function, shape, and strength and protect it from any future damage. This procedure is usually performed after the root canal procedure or on teeth that are cracked, worn off, or weak.
These dental crowns are made from different materials like porcelain and metal, and sometimes, they are combined with these materials. The type of dental crown that is needed is usually chosen by the patient’s preference and the place of the tooth in the mouth.
Why are root canals and dental crowns usually done together?
Combining both root canal and dental crown treatment is a well-known treatment approach. These procedures are performed together to ensure long-term protection of the damaged tooth. Learn below why root canals and dental crowns need to be done together with some specific pointers:
1. Infection control in root canal treatment.
Before placing the crown on a tooth, it is necessary to clean the tooth entirely from the inside out, and to do that, a root canal procedure needs to be performed. During the root canal procedure, dentists clean the tooth from inside and disinfect it to remove all the remaining bacteria.
2. Long-term teeth protection and functionality.
Once the root canal procedure is performed, the tooth becomes more fragile and more vulnerable than before due to the removal of the pulp. Therefore, to protect the tooth, a dental crown is placed to restore its strength.
3. Aesthetic restoration with dental crowns for better appearance.
Other than restoring the strength of teeth, dental crowns play another vital role in improving the appearance of the treated tooth. It helps to restore the aesthetics of the tooth to make it blend in with other undamaged teeth.
What is the cost of dental crowns and root canals?
The cost of a root canal and dental crown varies based on factors like the tooth’s location, the amount of damage on the tooth, and the material you choose for the crown. Since root canals on the back teeth (molars) usually cost more because they have more difficult root structures.
On the other hand, dental crowns also vary in price based on the materials chosen to make them, such as porcelain, metal, and ceramic.
A detailed number of pricing cannot be told as it varies from place to place. Hence, the best option would be contacting a local dentist and enquiring about the pricing of both treatments.