Ever heard of onlays instead of crowns after a root canal?

I went through this exact debate after my second root canal.

Sometimes dentists lean toward crowns because it's more predictable for both insurance and long-term strength, but onlays can be great if the tooth structure allows.

I went through this exact debate after my second root canal. My dentist pushed for a crown, but I really wanted to keep as much of my tooth as possible.

Had a similar situation after my molar root canal. My dentist was all about the crown too, but I pushed for an onlay since most of the tooth was still there. Took a bit of back-and-forth, but like you said, it’s held up just fine. I get wanting to avoid shaving down more tooth than necessary. Only thing—my insurance barely covered it, so heads up on that part.

Did you worry about the tooth cracking without a full crown, though? I keep hearing that after a root canal, the tooth is more brittle. My dentist said onlays are less protective, and now I’m second-guessing if I should’ve just gone with the crown. Insurance barely covered mine either... honestly, the cost was a whole other stress.

I get where you're coming from, but did your dentist mention how much healthy tooth you had left? My last root canal, they said I had enough structure for an onlay, and honestly, it’s held up fine—no cracks or anything after two years. I know crowns are supposed to be the “safer” bet, but sometimes it just feels like overkill, especially with the cost. Did your tooth have a big chunk missing or just that one spot? Insurance barely touched mine too... real pain.

Funny you mention the cost—my wallet still hasn’t forgiven me for that crown. I had a molar where only one cusp broke off, and my dentist said an onlay would do the trick. Two years later, it’s still hanging in there. Did your dentist talk about the risk of needing a crown down the line, or was it more of a “let’s see how this holds up” kind of thing?