In cases where there is not enough remaining solid tooth structure after decay and fragile tooth structure is removed, or the tooth has fractured, the tooth may need to be restored with a crown that may cover part or all of the tooth. Crowns can consist of a variety of materials including gold, ceramic and/or a combination of the two.  All porcelain crowns are the best choice for aesthetic and structural reasons.  Crowns are also used when it is desirable to improve the appearance of a discolored and badly shaped tooth and to restore dental implants.
    Root canal therapy (or endodontic therapy) is recommended when the pulp of the tooth – the soft inner part of the tooth that includes the nerves and blood vessels, is diseased, injured or dead. This can be the result of tooth decay or trauma.
    To alleviate pain, prevent infection and to help you keep the tooth, the dentist must remove the diseased pulp from the root canal, the hollow part inside the tooth that holds the pulp.  After the pulp is removed, the root canal is cleaned and sealed.  Then a crown or cap is placed over the tooth to strengthen and protect it.
    If you’ve had a root canal in the past, you know it’s not the most pleasant of dental experiences. In fact, it can be painful.  What’s more, root canal therapy merely caps dead tissue; the tooth is no longer alive.  And the success of root canal therapy is not always certain.
    But, there is an alternative to root canal therapy that is not only painless, it’s far more reliable.  When it comes to dealing with diseased, injured or dead pulp, consider dental implants.
    Dental implants are permanent fixtures that replace both the tooth and the root.  First, your decayed, diseased tooth is removed – a more comfortable procedure than a root canal.  Then a titanium tooth root is implanted into your jaw bone.  In a relatively short amount of time, the bone attaches to the root, securing it in place.  Then a custom-made porcelain crown is attached to the titanium root, creating a permanent tooth. You care for the dental implant just as you would a natural tooth, brushing and flossing daily. 
    As a restorative measure, dental implants are reliable (far more reliable than root canal therapy), aesthetically pleasing, and long lasting. They can be used to replace one tooth, or a number of teeth. 
    Today, implants can be permanently placed the same day as your tooth is extracted.  No multiple appointments. You can get back to feeling and looking your best in no time at all.