Can a Zirconia Crown with a Live Tooth Have a Root Canal Without Needing to Replace the Crown?

Zirconia is one of the hardest materials and certainly the hardest/strongest ceramics utilized intraorally. In order to have the root canal accomplished, a small opening will have to be accessed on the chewing surface of the crown. The Dr will most likely use 2-3 new diamond drill bits with a heavy flow of water to cool and keep the ceramic from cracking. Once the access is open the root canal treatment can progress, followed by a tooth colored filling to seal and restore the opening that was created.

Removing an existing zirconia crown will require the same care and patience as drilling through it. Once a "slit" is created along the side of the crown a special instrument can separate the pieces. Unfortunately the crown is no longer usefull. Occasionally a "gummy" substance is placed on the crown, the patient bites into it, and opens rapidly. Sometimes the crown will pop of and is reusable.

When the patient starts getting symptoms under zirkonia crown, it complicates the situation because the dentist will need to drill carefully through the crown. In the situation when the crown fractures/breaks it should be completely redone.