Do I have to put a crown on after a root canal?

In most cases we recommend placing a crown. A root canal-treated tooth loses its blood supply and becomes brittle and prone to fracture. Molars in particular bear heavy chewing forces - if used without a crown, the tooth can split, which may eventually lead to extraction. The tooth can also darken over time, so a crown is helpful for esthetics as well. That said, for some cases such as front teeth with only minor damage, we may finish with just a resin filling and no crown. The final decision depends on the condition of the tooth.