Q. Hi, I had root canal treatment on a molar tooth a year ago and a subsequent infection which settled down with antibiotics. The tooth is cracked and my dentist has suggested I now have it crowned as this is likely to prolong the life of the tooth. However, I have noticed that the tooth sometimes feels slightly uncomfortable to hard pressure (ie certain foods) when I am eating although I’m not sure why this might be as the tooth is no longer live. I have been told previously that my bite on that side is rather hard which is why the tooth cracked in the first place. I was wondering if you could advise me what the likely explanation for this is and if it is safe to have it crowned? If I mention this when I go for the crown is it likely that my dentist will x ray the tooth first to see if there is any infection present? Also in your expert opinion, assuming the tooth is suitable to be crowned, is that the best treatment for it to preserve the tooth? Many thanks in advance for your advice.