Crown After a Root Canal: Post, Core and When You Need One
This page is general information and does not replace an examination.
After a root canal, a back tooth usually needs a crown or an onlay to protect it: in a University of Iowa study, root-filled teeth that were not crowned were lost at a 6 times higher rate. If too little of the tooth is left to hold a crown, a post is placed in the root and a core rebuilds the tooth. At Ulubey Dental Clinic in Antalya a post is €60, a core build-up €60 and a zirconia crown €185.
- 1. Do you need a crown after a root canal?
- 2. Filling, onlay, crown or post and core
- 3. What a post and core are
- 4. Why the tooth that is left matters most
- 5. Fibre or metal post: what studies show
- 6. From root canal to crown, step by step
- 7. Prices in Antalya
- 8. What the guarantee covers
- 9. How we work
- 10. Frequently asked questions
- 11. Sources
Do you need a crown after a root canal?
Often, but not always. A root canal removes the infected pulp from inside the tooth[10], and the tooth has usually lost structure before that to decay, an old filling or a crack. What is left decides how it should be restored. After the root canal, the dentist replaces the temporary filling with a regular filling or a crown to protect the tooth from further damage[8].
The strongest data come from long-term follow-up. In a University of Iowa study of 203 root-filled teeth, teeth that were not crowned after the root canal were lost at a 6.0 times greater rate than crowned teeth, after tooth type and decay were taken into account[1]. The NHS also notes that a crown may be needed if the tooth was badly infected[10].
There is a limit to this evidence. A Cochrane review found only one small randomised trial comparing crowns with fillings for root-filled teeth and concluded that there is not enough evidence to say which is better; until there is, the decision should rest on the dentist’s clinical judgement and the patient’s situation and preferences[2]. That is why we decide tooth by tooth, at the examination and on the X-ray.
Filling, onlay, crown or post and core
A crown helps strengthen a tooth with a large filling when there is not enough tooth left to hold the filling[9]. When even a crown has too little to hold on to, a post and core come first[8]. The four options, by how much tooth is left:
| Option | When it may suit | What it involves | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filling | Most of the tooth’s walls are intact and the opening for the root canal is small | The access opening is sealed with a composite filling | €60 |
| Onlay (E.max) | Part of the chewing surface or one or more cusps are lost, but strong walls remain | A ceramic piece made at our partner laboratory covers and protects the weak part; usually ready in 2–3 days | €250 |
| Crown (zirconia or E.max) | Larger loss of tooth structure, a cracked tooth, or a tooth that also needs a better shape or colour | The tooth is shaped and covered completely; temporary in about 2–3 hours | €185 zirconia / €250 E.max |
| Post, core and crown | So little of the tooth is left above the gum that a crown would have nothing to hold on to | A post in the root holds a core build-up, and the crown goes on top | Post €60 + core €60 + crown |
Which option suits your tooth is decided at the examination with an X-ray. Prices as listed on our dental treatment prices page.
Our page on inlay, onlay or crown explains when an onlay can keep more of the tooth than a crown, and dental fillings covers the filling materials we use.
What a post and core are
A post is a thin rod placed in the cleaned and filled root canal. A core is the build-up that rebuilds the missing part of the tooth above the gum, like a large filling. Together they give a crown something to hold on to. The ADA describes it simply: a metal or plastic post may be placed in the root canal to help keep the filling materials in place, and this helps support a crown[8].
Not every root-filled tooth needs a post. The decision to use a post and core is made by the dentist for each tooth[2]; if enough tooth is left, a core build-up alone, or no build-up at all, is enough under the crown. A post is placed only when the remaining tooth cannot retain the core on its own.
A post’s job is to hold the core. Research on root-filled teeth points to the band of healthy tooth around the neck of the tooth as what matters most for fracture resistance[3], which is why the next section matters more than the choice of post.
Why the tooth that is left matters most
Dentists call the band of healthy tooth that the crown wraps around at the gum line the ferrule. A 2012 literature review summarised the research as follows[3]:
- A ferrule of 1.5 to 2 mm has a positive effect on the fracture resistance of root-filled teeth.
- If a full ring of tooth is not possible, a partial ferrule is better than none.
- An adequate ferrule lowers the influence of the post and core, the cement and the crown on how the tooth performs.
- When there is no tooth left above the gum, the authors suggest considering orthodontic extrusion (gently moving the root up) rather than surgical crown lengthening; if neither is possible, a poor outcome is very likely.
In practice this means a root-filled tooth with very little left can sometimes be kept and sometimes cannot be kept predictably. When the remaining tooth is too short, crown lengthening with bone removal (€150 per tooth at our clinic) can expose more of it; when the outlook is poor, we tell you honestly and discuss the alternatives, such as an implant or a bridge, before anything is done.
Fibre or metal post: what studies show
Posts are made either from glass fibre, bonded into the root, or from metal (prefabricated, or cast to fit in a laboratory). The clinical trials do not show a clear winner:
| Study | What was compared | Main finding |
|---|---|---|
| Wang et al. 2019, meta-analysis of 4 randomised trials[4] | Fibre vs metal posts in severely damaged teeth (no more than 2 walls left), 3–7 years | Teeth with fibre posts survived significantly better (RR 0.57); no difference in success, post debonding or root fracture |
| Tsintsadze et al. 2024, meta-analysis of 7 randomised trials[5] | Glass-fibre vs metal posts, at least 2 years | Survival 92.8% with fibre and 78.1% with metal posts, but the difference was not statistically significant; both described as reliable |
| Sarkis-Onofre et al. 2020, randomised trial[6] | 183 posts (glass fibre vs cast metal) in teeth without a ferrule, median 62 months | Similar success and survival; annual failure rate 1.7% (fibre) and 1.2% (cast metal); most failures in back teeth |
| Figueiredo et al. 2015, systematic review[7] | Root fractures with metal vs fibre posts, more than 5 years | No significant difference in root fractures; the included studies had a high risk of bias |
The studies concern root-filled teeth restored with posts; materials and techniques in these studies may differ from those used in any individual case.
The honest reading: both types work when they are indicated, and the amount of tooth left matters more than the post material. Ask your dentist which type of post is planned for your tooth and why; the post and the core appear as separate lines in our written quote.
From root canal to crown, step by step
- Examination and X-ray. We check the tooth, the root canal and how much tooth is left, and tell you which option from the table above fits and what it costs.
- Root canal treatment. For a vital tooth without an infection at the root tip, it is often done in a single session; otherwise it normally takes 2 sessions about 7 days apart. Details are on our root canal treatment page.
- Post and core, if needed. Part of the root filling is removed to make room for the post, the post is fixed in the root, and the core is built up around it.
- Preparation and digital scan. The tooth is shaped and scanned with the Dentsply Sirona Primescan; a temporary crown is usually ready within 2–3 hours.
- Try-in and fitting. The crown made at our partner laboratory is tried in and then fitted. A single crown is usually finished within 1–2 working days.
If a tooth breaks while you are on holiday in Antalya, a post and core with a temporary crown can sometimes be done on the day you come in; whether your tooth allows it is decided at the examination. Visiting from abroad? The dental treatment stay planner shows the days for a root canal and a crown in the same trip, and our 5-working-day crown trip explains the crown days in detail.
Some tenderness after root canal treatment and crown work is common; our guide to pain after dental treatment explains what is expected and when to call us.
Prices in Antalya
| Treatment | Price |
|---|---|
| Root canal, 1 root | €120 |
| Root canal, 2 roots | €150 |
| Root canal, 3 roots | €180 |
| Each additional canal | +€30 |
| Post (if needed) | €60 |
| Core build-up (if needed) | €60 |
| Zirconia crown (Amann Girrbach) | €185 |
| E.max crown (Ivoclar IPS e.max) | €250 |
| E.max inlay or onlay | €250 |
| Crown lengthening with bone removal (if needed) | €150 |
Ulubey Dental Clinic, October 2026; prices as listed on our dental treatment prices page.
Example: for a molar with 3 roots that needs a post, a core build-up and a zirconia crown, the total is €485: root canal €180, post €60, core build-up €60 and zirconia crown €185. A tooth that needs no post and no core build-up: €180 + €185 = €365. Your own total depends on the tooth and is set out line by line in your written quote.
- Included: the temporary crown and try-ins during your treatment visit.
- No fee: the consultation, the panoramic X-ray and removing an old crown before a new crown.
- Charged only if needed: the post, the core build-up, crown lengthening; medicines bought at the pharmacy.
Prices are indicative; your final written quote follows the examination and X-rays and is valid for 30 days. Unless the treatment plan changes, the written price does not change.
Estimate a larger case with the zirconia crown cost calculator; every item is on our dental treatment prices page.
What the guarantee covers
- Crowns: 10-year fracture guarantee on Amann Girrbach zirconia crowns and bridges made at our partner lab; 5-year clinic guarantee on crowns and bridges in other materials; crown and bridge guarantees exclude fracture due to bruxism (teeth grinding), and patients who grind their teeth must wear the night guard we provide. All guarantees are conditional on attending recommended check-ups and cover the prosthesis, not the root canal or filling beneath it.
- Onlays: E.max inlays and onlays carry a 5-year clinic guarantee against fracture or debonding, with the same conditions as E.max veneers: it excludes trauma and bruxism without the night guard we provide, depends on recommended check-ups and covers the restoration, not the tooth or root canal beneath it.
- Yearly check-up: at our clinic in Antalya (no fee for the check-up) or with any licensed dentist where you live, who sends us an X-ray, 5 photos and a short note; Dr. Ali Cem Ulubey or Dr. Surur Ulubey reviews them in writing within 7 days.
In plain words: if the crown fractures within the guarantee terms, it is remade; the root canal, the post and the core build-up beneath it are treatment of your own tooth and are not covered. If a root canal does not heal, it can sometimes be treated with root-end surgery (apicoectomy, €200 for a single-root tooth and €250 for a multi-root tooth). Full terms are in our written dental guarantee. If you grind your teeth, read our guide to protecting crowns and veneers when you grind.
How we work
Ulubey Dental Clinic is run by two dentists, Dr. Ali Cem Ulubey and Dr. Surur Ulubey; there are no rotating dentists. We take a panoramic X-ray for every patient, work with rubber dam isolation and a Dentsply Sirona Primescan intraoral scanner, and our crowns are made at our partner laboratory: monolithic zirconia from Amann Girrbach and glass ceramic from Ivoclar IPS e.max. Our page on what to check before zirconia crowns lists the questions to ask any clinic, including about the root canal, post and core under a crown.
Frequently asked questions
Do you always need a crown after a root canal?
Not always. Which of a filling, an onlay or a crown suits the tooth depends on how much of the tooth is left, where it is in the mouth and how you bite. In a University of Iowa study, root-filled teeth without a crown were lost at a 6 times higher rate, but a Cochrane review found too few trials to set a rule, so we decide tooth by tooth on the X-ray.
What is a post and core?
A post is a thin rod placed in the root canal of a root-filled tooth, and the core is the build-up around it that rebuilds the missing part of the tooth above the gum. Together they give the crown something to hold on to. A post is used only when too little of the tooth is left; at our clinic it is €60, and the core build-up is €60.
Is a fibre post better than a metal post?
Neither is clearly better. A 2019 meta-analysis of 4 trials found better survival with fibre posts in severely damaged teeth, while a 2024 meta-analysis of 7 trials and a 2020 trial with about 5 years of follow-up found no significant difference. What matters most is how much healthy tooth is left around the neck of the tooth for the crown to grip.
How long after a root canal can I get a crown?
Once the root canal is complete. For a vital tooth without an infection at the root tip, the root canal is often done in a single session; otherwise it takes 2 sessions about 7 days apart. The crown follows: a temporary is usually ready within 2–3 hours of preparation, and a single crown is usually finished within 1–2 working days.
How much is a crown after a root canal in Antalya?
At Ulubey Dental Clinic a zirconia crown is €185 and an E.max crown €250. The root canal is €120 to €180 depending on the number of roots, plus €30 per additional canal; a post and a core build-up are €60 each, only if needed. In the example of a molar needing all of these, the total is €485; your written quote, valid 30 days, lists each item.
Does the crown guarantee cover the root canal?
No. The guarantee covers the crown: 10 years against fracture for Amann Girrbach zirconia crowns made at our partner lab and 5 years for crowns in other materials, conditional on recommended check-ups. It excludes fracture due to bruxism (teeth grinding), and patients who grind must wear the night guard we provide. The root canal, post and core beneath the crown are not covered.
Sources
- Aquilino SA, Caplan DJ. Relationship between crown placement and the survival of endodontically treated teeth. J Prosthet Dent. 2002;87(3):256-263. PMID 11941351. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11941351
- Sequeira-Byron P, Fedorowicz Z, Carter B, Nasser M, Alrowaili EF. Single crowns versus conventional fillings for the restoration of root-filled teeth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(9):CD009109. PMID 26403154. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26403154
- Juloski J, Radovic I, Goracci C, Vulicevic ZR, Ferrari M. Ferrule effect: a literature review. J Endod. 2012;38(1):11-19. PMID 22152612. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22152612
- Wang X, Shu X, Zhang Y, Yang B, Jian Y, Zhao K. Evaluation of fiber posts vs metal posts for restoring severely damaged endodontically treated teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Quintessence Int. 2019;50(1):8-20. PMID 30600326. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30600326
- Tsintsadze N, Margvelashvili-Malament M, Natto ZS, Ferrari M. Comparing survival rates of endodontically treated teeth restored either with glass-fiber-reinforced or metal posts: a systematic review and meta-analyses. J Prosthet Dent. 2024;131(4):567-578. PMID 35430048. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35430048
- Sarkis-Onofre R, Amaral Pinheiro H, Poletto-Neto V, Bergoli CD, Cenci MS, Pereira-Cenci T. Randomized controlled trial comparing glass fiber posts and cast metal posts. J Dent. 2020;96:103334. PMID 32302640. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32302640
- Figueiredo FE, Martins-Filho PR, Faria-E-Silva AL. Do metal post-retained restorations result in more root fractures than fiber post-retained restorations? A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Endod. 2015;41(3):309-316. PMID 25459568. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25459568
- American Dental Association, MouthHealthy. Root canals (accessed 26 October 2026). www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/root-canals
- American Dental Association, MouthHealthy. Crowns (accessed 26 October 2026). www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/crowns
- NHS. Root canal treatment (page last reviewed 3 October 2025; accessed 26 October 2026). www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/root-canal-treatment
This article is general patient information and does not replace a clinical examination or X-rays.
Editor contact: [email protected] · ulubeydental.com/contact-us
