Crown on the Tooth Root

We help save the tooth, even if less than 30% remains

At the author's prosthetics clinic "Kiadent," we install reliable and aesthetic crowns on tooth roots. We strengthen them using fiberglass posts and post-and-core inlays made of E-max ceramics and zirconia.

We perform restoration of remaining tooth roots with crowns at "Kiadent" clinic.

How a Crown on a Tooth Root Works

Prosthetics on a tooth root is possible under several conditions:

sufficient root length;
good canal patency;
thick, strong walls capable of holding a post and withstanding chewing loads;
absence of inflammation or infection at the root apex.

Cost of a Tooth Crown on a Root

The cost of a crown on a root consists of the material, manufacturing, installation of an inlay or post, and the prosthesis itself. The exact cost of treatment will be calculated by the dentist during a personal consultation.

Full list of services for a crown on a tooth root

Dentist consultation
Temporary crown
Post-and-core inlay (per tooth)
Fiberglass post, build-up
Long-term temporary crown
Zirconia crowns
E-max crowns (Pressed ceramics and CAD/CAM)
Crown on a tooth root (Solid zirconia crown and fiberglass post)

Types of Crowns on a Tooth Root

Ceramic

Reliable crowns made of E-max glass-ceramic are indistinguishable from real teeth—in structure, optical properties, and shade, they are close to enamel. We install two types of ceramic microprostheses:

Pressed (IPS E-max PRESS)—high-strength, withstand significant loads.
Milled (IPS E-max CAD)—most aesthetic, replicate the micro-relief of the tooth surface.

Zirconia

Extremely strong crowns made of zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂). They confidently withstand pressure that exceeds chewing loads several times. There are three types:

Monolithic—from a solid block of opaque zirconia, suitable for molars.
Multilayer (Multi-layer)—from a four-layer zirconia disc that replicates the structure of enamel, universal.
With ceramic facing—solid zirconia framework covered with layers of porcelain glaze, suitable for the smile zone.

Inlay and Crown—One Material

An inlay is fitted with a crown made of the same material. A metal post shows through under a prosthesis made of glass-ceramic/zirconia, giving the tooth a bluish tint. The materials have different properties; there is a risk that the structure will be unstable.

Contraindications for Installing a Crown on a Root

Absolute Contraindications

When installing a prosthesis on the root is impossible

short root length;
curved root;
thin walls;
poor canal patency;
root cracks;
root caries;
advanced periodontitis;
apical periodontitis;
pronounced mobility;
cyst, granuloma of the tooth root;
fistula on the gum, poorly responsive to treatment;
blood coagulation disorders;
severe psychoneurological disorders;
tumors in the maxillofacial area.

Relative Contraindications

When preparation is required

individual intolerance to the material;
bruxism;
diseases of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ);
acute illnesses;
exacerbation of chronic conditions;
pregnancy, breastfeeding period.

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Crown on a Root

Pros:

Strength. The post/inlay forms a single structure with the root and prosthesis. Pressure is evenly distributed. The risk of root fracture is minimal if the dentist's recommendations are followed.
Long service life. We install crowns made of high-quality materials, strictly following the protocol. The possibility of infection is excluded—we work with a dental microscope. With proper care, the prosthesis lasts 15 years or more.
Aesthetics. In color, shape, and chewing surface, the crown matches the natural tooth. In the front section, we select a construction with identical micro-relief and translucency of the cutting edge.
Speed of treatment. Prosthetics based on the tooth root takes 2–3 visits. After a short rehabilitation, you can fully load the tooth.

Cons:

Limited list of indications. A prosthesis on the tooth root is fixed only if there are no serious periodontal pathologies, and the root is of the correct shape, sufficiently strong, and long.

Stages of Restoring a Root with a Crown

Installing a Crown on a Post

1. Step. Preparation
Treat caries and gums. Remove pulp and old filling material. The canal is washed with an antiseptic solution and filled with gutta-percha.
2. Step. Installation
Select the length of the post. Form a recess for it. The canal is expanded, treated with orthophosphoric acid, cleaned, washed, and dried. Apply primer and bond, install the post, and fix with composite material.
3. Step. Creating the stump
Build up the coronal part of the tooth and grind it. Take an impression and send it to the dental laboratory. Fix a temporary plastic crown.
4. Step. Tooth restoration
Try on the permanent prosthesis. If everything is in order, fix it with dental cement.

On an Inlay

1. Step. Preparation
Treat adjacent teeth. Perform depulpation, endodontic treatment, and canal filling.
2. Step. Making the inlay
Form a bed for the inlay. Take impressions and send them to the dental laboratory. Place a temporary filling. The technician makes an individual model, then the construction itself. It consists of posts corresponding to the number and length of root canals, and the tooth stump.
3. Step. Installing the inlay
The tooth canals are treated and dried. The construction is tried on, adjusted, and fixed with cement.
4. Step. Prosthetics
Take impressions, prepare, and place a polymer crown. The data is sent to the laboratory to create a permanent prosthesis. After 1–2 weeks, the patient comes for a repeat visit to fix the crown.

Doctor's Advice

Both inlays and posts can last as long as possible. Therefore, trust your dentist: they will select the option that will last the longest in your case.

If choosing among posts, fiberglass ones are the best. They are biocompatible, strong, and ensure even distribution of pressure inside the tooth.

A cast post-and-core inlay restores a tooth with one root or two parallel roots; a split inlay is used for 2–4 roots. Ceramic inlays are used on front teeth, titanium on molars, gold and zirconia are universal options.

Alternative Restoration Method

Bridge Prosthesis

A classic design consists of three crowns. The side ones are placed on prepared healthy teeth or attached to implants. The crown in the middle replaces the missing tooth.

A bridge restores 1–2 teeth. In cases of multiple defects, the construction is placed on prepared supports if the teeth are missing non-consecutively. A bridge prosthesis on implants can restore the entire dental arch.

Immediate Implantation

The implant is placed immediately after tooth extraction. The prosthesis is placed at the same appointment, within 3–7 days (immediate loading) or after 3–6 months (delayed loading). The immediate implantation protocol is used only under ideal conditions: absence of infection, suitable socket size, preservation of bone volume, and integrity of the inter-root septum.

Care and Prevention

A crown on a root does not require special care. It is brushed twice a day along with the rest of the teeth. Additionally, an irrigator is used. After each meal, rinse the mouth with a special rinse or clean water. Floss and interdental brushes are not recommended in the area of the prosthesis. Every 6–12 months, it is necessary to undergo a preventive examination and professional oral hygiene.

Questions and Answers

How long will a crown on a root last?
A crown on a root can last 15–20 years or more if the patient treats their teeth carefully. The service life depends on the material. Metal-ceramics lasts an average of 7–10 years, ceramics—15 years, zirconia—20 years. The post-and-core inlay itself lasts 15–20 years, the post—3–7 years.
Are there any dietary restrictions?
For the first 7–10 days, eat warm, soft, liquid food. In the future, maximally limit or exclude sticky, chewy products from the diet. Cut hard vegetables, fruits, and tough meat into small pieces. Avoid consuming cold and hot dishes, drinks, and temperature fluctuations.
Which materials are best for prostheses?
In the smile zone—E-max ceramics; in the posterior areas—zirconium dioxide. Ceramics imitates the shade of enamel and translucency of the cutting edge, handling biting and cutting food. Zirconia withstands loads greater than chewing loads but is less aesthetic. Even Multi-layer still lags behind glass-ceramics.