How can we help you?
At Hudzinski Dental, we appreciate your questions because we believe that the most informed patients have the best chance of maintaining a healthy, problem-free smile. Whatever is on your mind, whether it's about a procedure, finances, or any other concerns, we're always here to help.
On this page, you'll find some of the questions we hear most often. Please take a look, and if you don't see what you need here, don't hesitate to call our team at (440) 585-4200.
Root Canal Treatment
A crown protects your tooth after root canal treatment. During a root canal, the infected pulp is removed from inside the tooth. While this process saves the tooth, it does leave it structurally weaker.
What Happens to a Tooth After a Root Canal
When the pulp is removed, the tooth loses its internal blood supply. Over time, this can make the tooth more brittle and prone to cracking. The tooth also typically has significant decay or damage that required the root canal in the first place, meaning there is less natural tooth structure left to support everyday chewing forces.
Why a Filling Alone May Not Be Enough
A filling restores the opening made during the root canal, but it does not reinforce the tooth. Back teeth especially absorb a lot of pressure when you chew. Without a crown, a root canal-treated molar or premolar is at higher risk of cracking or breaking, which could mean losing the tooth entirely.
When You Might Not Need a Crown
In some cases, front teeth with minimal damage may not require a crown after a root canal. Because front teeth experience less chewing force, a filling may be sufficient. Dr. Hudzinski will evaluate your specific situation and recommend the best approach to protect your tooth in the long term.
Have questions about root canals or crowns? Call our Mayfield Heights, OH, office at (440) 585-4200. We welcome patients from Gates Mills, Chesterland, Hunting Valley, Kirtland, and beyond.
A root canal removes infected or inflamed tissue from inside a tooth's nerve chamber and root canals, then seals the cleaned space to prevent reinfection. It's needed when decay, a crack, or trauma reaches the tooth's inner nerve tissue, since that tissue can't heal on its own and the infection will otherwise spread into the surrounding bone.
A root canal is recommended whenever enough healthy tooth structure remains to support a long-term restoration after infected tissue is removed. Extraction becomes the better option when a tooth is fractured below the gumline, lacks bone support due to advanced gum disease, or the canal system is too complex to predictable clean and seal.
After numbing the area, we create a small access opening in the top of the tooth, remove the infected pulp tissue from the nerve chamber and canals, clean and shape the canals, then fill and seal them with a biocompatible material. A filling closes the access opening, and a crown is usually placed afterward to protect the tooth.