how wise would it be to wait a 6 months before considering putting a crown on the tooth?

Q. I have an ongoing concern that if possible I would like you to help me with. 6 months ago I had a root canal procedure performed on my lower 2nd premolar (5th tooth from the lower front). The root canal went well however the dentist abstained from putting a crown on the tooth because he wanted to wait 6 months to make sure the procedure had been successful. 6 months has now passed. However recently half of the inner portion of my own crown has now broken off at the gum line (the side closest to my tongue).However I noticed after the break that there was a filling there spanning the same length of my broken tooth from the gum line up to the length of my remaining tooth. So food debris were less likely to get inside the tooth. I visited the dentist for this break and they removed my old filling from the previous root canal procedure because they said that it was loose, and replaced it with a temporary filling. I have to go back in 2 weeks time to have a permanent filling put back in. After having x rayed the tooth the dentist said that there had been an improvement in the tooth since my root canal 6 months ago. My concern is that I now have a new dentist and despite telling them that my previous dentist planned to put a crown on my tooth after 6 months. My new dentist has said that they would like to wait a further 6 months before considering putting a crown on the tooth to make sure everything is ok. Considering that my weakened tooth has already broken once in the 6 months since having root canal, how wise would it be to wait a further 6 months before considering putting a crown on the tooth? Isn’t there a higher risk that the tooth will break again within these 6 months making it less possible to crown it? I would really appreciate your help and advice in this matter. Kind Regards

A. I agree with you after a premolar or molar tooth is root treated it is must more likely to fracture I would advise you to find a dentist to put a crown and post on this tooth as soon as you can otherwise there is a chance the tooth could break more.  I am assuming the tooth is pain free. 

Dr Riten Patel The Mulberry 18 Ashley Road, Walton on Thames Surrey, KT12 1HS Web: www.mulberrydental.co.uk Tel: 01932 223 479 View My Profile Dr Patel

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