Do I Need a Crown?

A lot of people, especially patients of mine, ask about crowns and whether it's worth it. A crown is like a safety helmet. It protects the tooth for further damage. Read my article about crowns here askthedent.ist/crowns
Having a root canal done on your tooth is the main reason for needing a crown. To know more about root canals, check my article here:
askthedent.ist/root-canals
Tooth trauma is also one of the main reasons for needing crowns. Grinding and clenching cause so much trauma to the teeth and our teeth cannot handle so much pressure. What's worse is grinding at night is a symptom of sleep apnea. Read about grinding and sleep apnea here:
askthedent.ist/grinding
The best way to avoid the expense of getting crowns is going back to basics, taking care of your teeth. Biofilm management (brushing and flossing), the right diet and supplementing with vitamins are what I always recommend.
Here are some of the products that I personally use.
FOR BIOFILM MANAGEMENT:
Boka Ela Mint Toothpaste: askthedent.ist/boka-toothpaste
Boka Mint Floss: askthedent.ist/boka-floss
Boka Electric Toothbrush: askthedent.ist/boka-sonic-brush
Goby Electric Toothbrushes: askthedent.ist/goby-sonic
SUPPLEMENTS:
View our collection of vitamins and supplements to support oral health at askthedent.ist/vitamins
FOOD SOURCES OF VITAMIN K2 (the most important vitamin to support oral health):
Visit the Butcherbox site using the link below to get free bacon + $15 off on your first order. (orders within the US only)
Butcherbox: askthedent.ist/butcherbox-atd
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DISCLOSURE:
Ask the Dentist is supported by readers and viewers. If you use one of the links above or links on the articles and video mentioned and buy something, Ask the Dentist makes a little bit of money at no additional cost to you. I rigorously research, test, and use thousands of products every year, but recommend only a small fraction of these. I only promote products that I truly feel will be valuable to you in improving your oral health.

[@theFloridianKitties]

I’m so glad I clicked on this video…. It’s very helpful. I have peace and confidence about it. Thank you Dr. Mark.

[@_MariaD_]

This was so calming and exactly what I was looking for in a video about getting a crown

[@debbie9113]

Perfect. Just the information that i needed as i've been told today that i need a crown. This gives me both confidence and peace of mind. Sincerely appreciated! :-)

[@clivegable9387]

Thanks Mark, really appreciate how you explain so clearly this sometimes complex work 🙏🙏🙏

[@sittinala6222]

Thank you very much Dr. Mark! God bless you! 🙏🏼

[@reynamacias3154]

Thank you so much for this video 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 the empathy for the concerned patient and details provided are greatly appreciated 🙏

[@hazelriley4673]

Thank you for answering my concerns in the exact answers that I needed.

[@iam_varunsharma]

Thanks for making the video. It has been more than a year thatI had a Riot canal. Dentist did not inform me to have a root canal done. Now today i visited dentist and she said to get a crown for the teeth ASAP.

[@staygroovybritt]

Thank you! This video helped put me at ease :)

[@karlaguerra7241]

I am sooooo depressed after knowing i need a crown, i had soooo many questions and THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH FOR ALL THE ANSWERS.... i also need an implant and soooooo afraid of the procedure.... i've had an awful experience with my last dentist appointment, a moler cracked .... and well the first option given was to pull it off... and after doing that she said a root canal procedure might work ..... after all the pain..... a SECOND OPTION after pullimg a tooth out!???? Jesus Christ!!!! Please if you have a dentist, Dr, anyone that gives this advice KEEP HIM/HER IN YOUR LIFE FOREVER. Your video gave me peace, and I am now aware of not allowing Drs to just take a tooth out of my mouth just because its cheaper! I had braces everything went well.... my teeth were almost perfect, and now this crown thing gives me nightmares.... 💙🙏🏻 thank you again for everything!!!!i just feel like I lost everything .... i hate smiling.... but now I know im not the only one going through this awful and maybe painful experience.

[@TomTom-xh6cn]

wow. You have answered all my questions in this video about crowns,Thanks a lot

[@fernfolch]

Great explination. I am endodontist and this vid was great for educating off-site patients.

[@BMilitant]

Thanks for making this

[@nicolelam7571]

Awesome! So informative! Why aren’t you practicing anymore??? I wish I can have you worked on my tooth now! I called your office and they said you retired! 😢

[@dianedraveski6485]

Your channel is the best dental channel, really helps me. Thank you.

[@askthedentist]

Thank you so much for the kind words, Diane! Subscribers like you are why we do this.

[@SaidAdan]

@@askthedentist I have a question,I went to Turkey,I had two crooked teeth,dentist advised me to put whole my teeth crown,and I were very sure nothing wrong with my other teeths,I agreed with him,he shaved all my teeth and put whole mouth zirconia crown,when I come back here I google I realized that I made mistake,and met greedy dentist.whats your advice please?

[@user-yv4lf4uf2l]

Thank you.. I wish my dentist spoke this way. You did make me feel better. I am still petrified as with any procedure, even a filling..

[@MohamedFT260]

Thanks so much for this video. It answered all my questions.

[@askthedentist]

Glad it was helpful!

[@phwshopping1426]

Thank you for this video I feel a bit better now. I’m off to my dentist today.. big piece of old metal filling ripped out when I flossed😭 he has already warned me I will need a crown on this tooth.

[@FKimE]

Very clearly understood

[@nanigo]

Thanks!!!

[@muhammadhammad3538]

sir just wanna say. thanks a lot

[@mfgunit]

I wonder if second opinion is necessary. The dentist has incentive to recommennd a crown when not nessasarily needed due to obvious financial aspect. Just like a mechanic recommends to change something , that could wait longer, such as brakes at 50% left.

[@bml2007]

Is it true that less tooth structure is removed with same day crowns compared to traditional crowns?

[@kayecrozier5384]

very interesting thanks

[@nabilghafar9150]

Tq for the info.

[@georgeosborn421]

Hi Mark, I cracked my front tooth in half 12 years ago- I'm 20 now and have had two root canals and the tooth nerve is dead, it's also discoloured and is currently 'filled'. I am quite nervous and the decision has been weighing on my mind. Does this make me a good patient for a crown? My dentist always reiterates that it is a cosmetic procedure, so do I actually need it?

[@martyh4777]

Instead of a crown after a root canal, can an composite inlay or composite overlay be used ?

[@FrYLocK41]

Can I do a crown to fix crooked teeth? I have a narrow cleft palate and it crooked a couple of my teeth. I'm considering doing crown to fix them. I am 32 years old and I think braces and expanding the palate is out of the equation now.

[@impeteng8252]

Hi Dr my bridge failed i just wana have fix my natural side teeth is it possible to have ceramic crown? Forget about the middle teeth just need to save the sides

[@GorgieClarissa]

Grinding causes crowns. Crowns are expensive. Dental offices can make custom mouth guards to prevent grinding and prevent crowns. Dental insurance companies- nah bro. We don't wanna do that

[@sushil4697]

I have small 2 3 gaps in my front teeth..I need to close these gaps within 1 month..Is crown necessary ??

[@didierrogersrukundo3076]

what is the best between getting veneer or crown ? which one is better than another one . Is veneer change colour when you drink coffee or tea ? is any way you can get veneer or crown without grounding your teeth ? i dont like the way they shave your teeth and they look small like babies . is any solution or the best procedures rather than using crown or veneer ? Some Drs says braces in order to straight your teeth can brake your teeth, advice from you will be a solution since you are honest Dr. Thx

[@SG-xb7de]

I had partial RCT in my lower back molar (tooth 18 or 19) a decade ago & the crown came off now while I'm in USA, as the tooth developed some cavity. I definitely cannot crack a walnut but the tooth seems to be strong enough to eat vegetarian food & has no sensitivity or pain or crack. I'm not a grinder. Doc in USA told me to put back the Crown by laser gum contouring after cleaning the cavity. Will it be a good idea to just get the cavity removed and not get any crown? I'm hesitant to unnecessarily cut my gums, user laser, add pin to my tooth &/or subject myself to tooth sensitivity or tooth/gum/crown pain. Your thoughts please? Thanks!

[@bossent.9575]

I just had a root canal on my front side tooth, I dont chew on this side do I need to rush to get a crown?

[@cccava3736]

I had a couples of bridges and 4months ago i cannot eat cold or hot very sensitive and very painful Anyone can help

[@dustbunee2007]

The tooth in the top row center of my mouth will be getting a crown sometime in the near future. That tooth has had quite a bit of history. On Thanksgiving Day when I was 12, one of my cousins and I were playing with a wiffle ball in the backyard, and I was accidentally hit in the mouth. Since my grandparents had lived far away from me, my dad got out a phone book and called around to see if a dentist was willing to open his office long enough to fix it for me. The dentist told my dad to put the tooth in a glass of milk and bring it with us, and I got the tooth fixed. About 2-3 weeks after that, I bit into a piece of candy at my baby-sitter's house and pulled it out again. I told my mom what the one dentist had said about putting the tooth in a glass of milk, which she did. Unfortunately, when I saw my own dentist the next day, my mom forgot to bring the glass of milk with the tooth in it, so my dentist had to rebuild the tooth. Now, over 30 years later, the dentist I'm seeing now wants to do a dental crown.

[@Tim4jesus]

Awesome! Thanks for your help! Just had a root canal, and was wondering how long I could wait in between root canal and crown (would love to wait some time, so I can get paid a couple more times to afford the crown better!) But sounds like maybe even 6 months might be ok as long as I'm careful eh? Maybe not chewing harder foods as much on the side with the tooth that had the root canal? Thanks! :D

[@Tim4jesus]

@@dolcac1231 Hey! That’s actually kinda cool to hear that someone else waited a long time haha I’m not the only one haha. Thanks lol

[@SG-xb7de]

Hi Tim! Did you have to get the crown or are you sailing through well without one? I'm in the same boat! I got partial RCT done (only in 2 canals and not all 4 canals of the tooth) in my lower molar, a decade ago that was crowned. Recently the crown came off as it got some cavity on the corner. The tooth is smaller but I don't have any pain or sensitivity or crack, and I'm able to chew well-cooked food. Right now, it's easier to floss too. Dentist told me, ideally I should get full RCT done for that tooth, cavity removed and then Crown by one of these 2 methods- 1. Laser gum trimming 2. Buildup with pins. I'm wondering, if I really need to take that risk of messing with cutting my gums, cancerous laser or pins to weaken the tooth and possible future infection from buildup or food that can get stuck underneath the crown edges & can easily pop off again on flossing? The crown would anyway only last 5-10yrs. I feel like, not touching the untroubled tooth and leaving it as is, after removing cavity should be good? Yes, I'll have to be careful to not bite hard food from that side. I'm a vegetarian anyway, so should be easy. I need advice though? Thanks!

[@barbaramiprince5724]

Thank you ,,,& can I get gold on my PFM ,, not the whole tooth I need 2 for my upper front tooth,,

[@TheMiz_0]

I am a grinder and 1 3rd of my upper row of teeth are damaged should I crown them all as I already have 2 crowns on the top one on front tooth and one molar. some of the teeth have cracks and fillings would I be better of just crowining my whole upper row. If so which type emax or zirconia any advise wo would be deeply appreciated. The bruxism caused gum recession and this is where the problems started Thanks your video is great

[@Airtouch67]

Do NOT get an E-Max crown that the DDS makes. They are garbage. Get a lab made PFM crown if possible.

[@roshnimishra9890]

Do the proclein crown stain? And How long does a proclein crown last on front tooth ?

[@devlukka164]

Hi do you have front teeth crown.?

[@theyourtube154]

Hi, Dr. Mark I had two implants done #9@10, unfortunately #10 fails twice, oral surgeons said some how they are not integrate, #10 which is

[@bonirabit4302]

I'm not sure what to do cuz my TMJ is so severe the pain in my jaw and I already had one too full 2 years ago they said now might save it but then I was told about the crack spreading below the gum line? But that was an oil surgeon that was going to get paid to pull it anyways and I was put under both times I had teeth fold that I've had bad experiences with tennis and I just don't know what's my jaw out of alignment how I can go through you know the feeling and getting a crown like you said a lot more grinding omg be conservative and then I didn't need a crown even though he admitted it but make the too stronger

[@noeliamonreal2428]

Oh Lord. It's ridiculously expensive! Two Root canals @ 1,450. ea. Two crowns. 647.00 ea. Times two... 💔🤢😭😭😭 But thnx for the info. You confirmed what the Dentist Dr. said. 😢

[@mehernoshpatel7610]

What about a lower incisor root canal teeth. Should it be crowned?

[@SG-xb7de]

What is a lower incisor RCT?

[@suzanne296]

Going tomorrow to get two crowns upper far left top. No insurance for dental. I dont want to do but I'll eventually need to pull tooth. You won't see it its the too far left 2 back teeth. Oh well ive got all my teeth so better get

[@alexeacollins8627]

Okay question tho I am getting a root canal on my canine tooth would I need one

[@mammaknows5666]

Absolutely

[@georgesontag2192]

Most " cavities " are dentist being drill crazy. They don't tell you the filling will fall out, fall out again, tooth will need a crown, the crown falls off. That one tooth is going cost you $10,000 once you add the implant. Don't just say yes to drilling. Don't fall for " you have a catch".

[@RADIUMGLASS]

I had a cavity in between and the dentist recommended a crown. I probably should have got a second opinion.

[@certifiedalchemist]

I had a root canal done over 10 years ago. I have been to quite a few dentists over the years (due to work related moving). Every one of them always comment on how "beautiful" my root canal is, after the initial x-ray. I have never taken any particular care due to the root canal. Initially I was told that I might need a crown down the line, but I don't really feel it is necessary at this point. Edit: Just to clarify, the root canal I have is on one of my back teeth.

[@meleren473]

U had a root canal and u have not placed a crown?

[@certifiedalchemist]

@@meleren473 yes, root canal without any crown for over 10 years. No issues so far.

[@dolcac1231]

Same here. I had a root canal 7 years ago and tomorrow finally I'm having a crown done. I have been pushing this because I'm really scared and nervous. My tooth looks "ok" with some debris from the filling but that's it. I feel like I can wait more but I'm tired of being told in every dentist visit I need a crown.

[@dolcac1231]

@@meleren473 me too. I had a root canal 7 years ago and no crown yet. Tomorrow hopefully 😭

[@limkaifulucas100]

@@dolcac1231 how is your feeling now after with permanent crown?

[@ladyj5682]

Find an excellent dentist who does the crown in one day, if possible. My first crown on a back tooth and I've had headaches every sense. I barely had any tooth left after ROOT canL which made me even madder that I didn't have it pulled. Don't trust dentist, get second or third opinions. I am getting a second one hopefully this week

[@WillordKigen-fm4se]

Nice

[@RegularGuyism]

What's your opinion on partial crowns?

[@askthedentist]

Regular Guy nothing wrong with it if it’s properly done. Personally I do a lot of gold onlays which is essentially a partial crown. The problem is that even though you’re reducing less tooth structure it could take longer for the dentist to accomplish. I find this unfortunate because it’s an elegant procedure to protect the cusps but not remove as much tooth structure as you would with a full crown. In other words it may be a dying art since I see it happening less and less

[@FEARisCOLD]

@@askthedentist I had one done and it popped off twice. My dentist decided to do a bulk composite. This is on the middle lower molar on the back of it. This wound up fracturing my tooth which is where I am now. It’s been a couple of months. I’m pretty upset about it and don’t even want to go back to him.

[@edwelndiobel1567]

Healthcare is ridiculous. A crown cost me 1200 dollars. For a little half an inch block of zirconium milled in a little machine for half an hour. All they have to do is put it in and press a button. Done. Now for that kind of money I could buy TEN brand new air conditioners or 100 new box fans, or 400 boxes of cereal, or a new laptop. Think of the man hours and materials that went into the manufacture of those other items. Dentistry is outrageously overpriced like all healthcare.

[@bossent.9575]

I had a root canal but have not got my crown yet, how are you doing with your crown? Because i had my root canal on a front side tooth and dont chew on that side I'm debating rather or not I need the crown

[@edwelndiobel1567]

@@bossent.9575 They are just like normal teeth but have to be done right by a good CLEAN dentist. Since you had a root canal that tooth is dead. It will become extremely brittle and will most likely crack at some point without a crown. If it cracks its 50/50 whether it will need to be pulled OR have to put a crown on it anyway to cease the crack. (if possible) so yeah I recommend getting a crown.

[@simu0072]

Hello sir.....I m from India..... one of my back teeth decay /erosion in the side which is connected with other tooth....does it need filling or crown....????

[@alexisbenavidez997]

What if it’s the front teeth my endo told me front teeth don’t need crowns.

[@ypherrist2792]

Only if it is discolored. Otherwise anteriors don't have to bear heavy stress hence no fear of cracking while biting.

[@devlukka164]

What did you done?

[@jcarteli4398]

My dentist said I don't need one after a root canal

[@ypherrist2792]

Which tooth was it? The front tooth or the back? Dentist here.

[@alyssachen6211]

I also have a root canal on front tooth. I did not expect to have a crown on my front tooth. Can I choose not to do that? I don’t think it’s necessary

[@ypherrist2792]

@@alyssachen6211 Is it broken in any way ma'am? If it is intact otherwise, then you would not need one.

[@Airtouch67]

Unfortunately, a great majority of posterior and anterior teeth that have had RCT fracture at the gingival margin. Now the patient is "twice as angry" because they just spent $2000 for 1 tooth and now it has to be extracted anyway. I see this all the time. Also, EMax, E4D and Cerec machine crowns are absolute garbage. Gold crowns have the longest longevity for sure (if you dont mind the appearance) and also lab made PFM Crowns are the next best thing for durability and longevity. The "in-house" 1 hour crowns are junk and patient's barely get 4-5 years out of them. Gold Crowns? 25-30 years. No brainer.

[@lonewolf1369]

Thanks for your comments. Are you a dentist? Have you had a RCT and crown done? Would you still recommend a crown for the bottom premolar next to the molar?

[@cpaul57]

This should be for free...Bernie Sanders baby!