Sherri Worth, DDS (retired)

If you have some swelling on the gum tissue around a recent root canal, it is normal.  A clamp is used with a rubber dam that isolates the tooth and the clamp can cause a little inflamation.

Do not ever try to remove a crown yourself, you will expose the tooth underneath and it could be very sensitive.

If you need a root canal, definitely go to a specialist, endodontist.  It is important for a specialist to perform the procedure because a general dentist is not specially trained in this area and does not donearly as many root canals as an endodontis.  If the crown fits, the endodontist can drill through the crown and fill it after with composite.  However, if it were me, I would have a new crown made, because I would rather not have my crown drilled through.

The color of teeth or veneers is very individual for each person.  In my opinion each tooth should be made from many colors mixed together, even if they are all the whitest shades, because the most beautiful natural teeth are not one uniform color.  Most veneers that I see are very uniform in color which creates a monochromatic look.  The best teeth in Hollywood are white but a custom mix of many different colors.

How long had the provisional crown been there?  If it has been there for a long time.  You can often salvage a broken tooth with a root canal, post and core, followed by a crown.  If the tooth is broken below the gumline or does not have enough coronal tooth structure to hold a restoration, you may need an implant.