What Is The Best Option For A Dead Front Tooth?

I am assuming that this tooth has discolored and that is your reason for your restorative options.  I would say that after your evaluation by an endodontist it is probably not necessary for a root canal.  An all porcelain crown would be a great option for this situation for two reasons.  Aesthetically, your crown can be matched exactly to the other teeth around it.  Also, the crown will help protect your tooth against fracturing since the canal is calcified and there is no longer any blood supply to the tooth. Good luck.

Experience of a dentist is so important when it comes to matching a front tooth.  Find an American Academy of Cosmetic Dentist (AACD) dentist.  A root canaled tooth can easily be matched to your other teeth, but again, it's all in the hands of the dentist.  Either crown or veneer will be fine if the substructure of your tooth is solid.  If the root canaled tooth is all false material, then a crown is more likely to be protective than a veneers.  

As long as there is not an infection and it is confirmed that a root canal does not or cannot be performed; for cosmetic issues in which there is sufficient healthy tooth structure and no contraindications (ie. teeth grinding), veneers are a great option to help correct discolorations. Consult your doctor, in person, to find out specifically what your best options are. Sometimes it may be beneficial, cosmetically, to have more than just the single veneer placed. Have an amazing day and keep smiling!

Many times teeth can suffer from a traumatic injury and not have any symptoms. Over time, you may notice the tooth turning darker in color, yet have no pain or discomfort. If this has happened to you, chances are you injured your tooth many years earlier. As time goes on, the tooth slowly dies and gets darker. On a routine dental exam, your dentist may notice that the nerve from the tooth has receded and become calcified. What this means is that the tooth is now completely sealed off from the rest of your body. Without getting nourishment and its blood supply, the tooth progressively gets darker and darker. 
If the specialist doesn't feel you need a root canal, yet your tooth is still dark, I would recommend placing a porcelain veneer on the tooth. A veneer is a thin shell of porcelain that is permanently bonded to the front of your tooth that can mask the dark color. I would avoid placing a crown as it requires more tooth reduction and that can compromise the tooth's long term prognosis.

Specialists by definition have higher training in the area they work in. Even so, some have greater comfort in some kinds of treatments. In this case, where you are being told that the treatment is not going to be possible, I am going to have to suggest that you look for a second opinion. 
It could just be an area that is on the outskirts of the comfort zone of the specialist that you went to see. 
If the tooth is dead, but not infected you can still crown it, it is just a case of monitoring it regularly and doing the root canal with someone who is comfortable with this type of calcified canal when the time comes. 
As tio crown vs veneer, modern crowns should be done in an adhesive method which means they can be largely the same size and format as a veneer. Let your dentist guide you about which one is most appropriate based on the amount of tooth tissue that remains. 
Good luck and kind regards

Thomas Dey, BDS, MSc

If the tooth is calcified doing a root canal treatment might be challenging. The specialist would be the best judge of how best to proceed following a thorough examination including x rays.
A dead tooth discolours over a period of time. A veneer or crown would match in colour to the other teeth closely.

I would get another opinion.  Best option would be to have root canal on this 'dead' tooth and internally whiten to see if the color can be brought to match the others.  If so, then you can avoid putting a veneer or crown on this tooth which may be difficult to get to match the adjacent teeth.

Based on what you are saying, a crown seem s like the best possible option, however, a full comprehensive exam would have to be performed to fully substantiate that.Best of luck. James Asaf, DDS

Often times it is required to place a crown on a root canal treated tooth because once the tooth dies, it becomes brittle and it loses its color. Even though this tooth has not had a root canal done to it, it may be dead. I actually think you should consider seeing another root canal specialist to evaluate the possiblility of treating it even though it may be calcified. Many root canal specialists are able to penetrate through the calcified portion depending on how severe it is. A veneer is an option too, which is more conservative, but it depends on how much stress you're putting on that tooth to determine if that's a good option for you.I think the best thing, if you do end up getting a root canal is to try to bleach the tooth internally after the root canal and see if you can get it back to its original color. 

So we have had patients that come
in with a dead front tooth or a tooth that has had root canal or has died and
has calcified and is practically the same type thing where the tooth is no
longer vital, doesn’t have the elasticity that a normal tooth would have if it
were still alive. In that case if the
tooth is dead the better option would be to do a full coverage porcelain crown,
so that it helps protect the tooth against fractures and protect the tooth
against a bite that might cause it to break and chip.