Dental crowns are a lifesaver for adults with partial or total tooth loss. Constructed from porcelain, ceramics, metal, or resin, dental crowns are protective caps that are cemented over damaged teeth for which dental fillings will no longer work. The dental crowns we use in our Scottsdale clinic are extremely durable and can last for as long as 15 years!
There are rare instances, however, when dental crowns need replacement or maintenance earlier than expected. Read on to know more about these cases.
When Should a Dental Crown be Replaced?
Whether you have an onlay, 3/4 crown, or a traditional crown that covers your entire tooth, it may need replacing or a few adjustments if you feel the following:
Prolonged sensitivity or sensitivity when you bite
t’s normal for a newly attached crown to feel foreign in your mouth on the first couple of days. It’s also normal for the tooth to feel a bit sensitive to cold and hot drinks and food — nothing that toothpaste for sensitive teeth cannot remedy. But if the pain persists and more so when you bite down on your food, it could mean that your dental crown is positioned a little too high than it should be.
Tooth decay
Some people experience receding gums as they age. If they had dental crowns several years earlier, a gap could form between the gums and the bottom edge of the dental crown. The exposed root of the tooth could form a cavity, in which case the only solution would be to remove the crown from the tooth and then address the decay.
Toothache
If you’re experiencing piercing pain in the tooth capped with a dental crown, it may be because you had tooth decay that resulted in a deep cavity. And this cavity became the entry point for bacteria, which then led to an infection of the pulp.
This situation calls for a root canal. Depending on several factors, we may drill a hole right through the crown or remove it before performing a standard root canal procedure.
Allergies
Though very rare, a patient may have an allergic reaction to the material used to create a dental crown. Metal crowns are often the culprit because they’re made from a combination of different metals. One of them could trigger an allergic response, such as a dry mouth or tingling or numbness in the area where the crown is. Allergic reactions require immediate dental crown removal.
Cracked or chipped crowns
If you bite more than your dental crown can handle, it could end up chipping or cracking your dental crown (and it will be painful, too!). Biting into hard candy can do this. Accidents like getting hit in the face while playing sports or and banging your jaw against a hard surface can also damage dental crowns.
As soon as you can manage the pain, book an emergency appointment and crown replacement with your dentist. A tip: spit out any loose fragments of your crown. If the crown gets dislodged but still intact, take it with you to the dentist.
Dislodged crowns
This can happen if there were errors in making the crown and it ends up a little too big for your tooth. You’ll know this is the case if you eat something soft and chewy, and it pulls your crown loose.
Book an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible (immediately, for emergency cases) if you experience any of the above. If you live anywhere in Scottsdale, our dental clinic is just an email or a phone call away. We have the specialists and tools necessary for a dental crown removal procedure.
Get rid of the pain and discomfort from damaged dental crowns. Get in touch with Rod W. Gore DDS for a consultation.