Do I need a crown on a chipped tooth that has just had a root canal?

Typically, when a tooth has been root canal treated and more than 50% of the tooth structure has been removed due to a chip or cavities, it is recommended that the tooth have a crown made for it.  A big reason for this is that once a tooth receives root canal treatment, the tooth becomes more brittle, because the blood supply inside the tooth has been removed, and therefore can be more susceptible to future cracks or chipping, especially since not a lot of tooth structure remains.Not having x-rays or being able to visually examine your teeth, it's hard to make a definitive statement concerning your case.  But based on what you described, a crown for that tooth would likely be your best option.  However, that's definitely not your only option.You don't have to do anything you don't want to do, and leaving the bonded filling there instead of having a crown placed is acceptable treatment.  It just might not be ideal treatment, and you should be aware that by doing so, you may be taking a risk for that tooth chipping or cracking even more in the future.

A properly done root canal should not cause the tooth to discolor appreciatively.If the root canal was done from the back side of your tooth (as most front teeth are), then a filling after the root canal may work fine for you.You could wait for the bonding to "finally" break off to make the decision on whether to rebond the tooth or do a crown.