Dental
It is not uncommon for tooth decay to develop beneath older crowns due to a breakdown in the bond or sealant after years of biting or chewing food. Dr. Knight will remove the existing crown to clean out the current tooth decay, replacing it with a new one once the tooth is fully healed and healthy again.
With proper care, crowns of any material will last around 10 years, and most hold up well for much longer. Regular dental appointments give the dentist a chance to assess their condition.
Avoiding decay
The most effective way to keep the tooth under a dental crown healthy and strong is to brush and floss. People of all ages should brush at least twice a day and floss daily to maintain good oral health. People who have crowns should focus on brushing gently at the base of the crown.
How You Can Tell if There is Decay Under Your Crown. If the affected area is quite small, it can be hard to detect any cavities or decay underneath it. To determine this, the dentist will usually use an x-ray. It will be up to him or her to know whether the teeth underneath are rotten or has any damage.
If decay is found under a crown and it has not progressed too far a restoration may be placed to repair the decay. If the decay is too extensive you may need a dental crown replacement.
Is it normal for my tooth to look black under my crown? It's not supposed to darken. Most of the time, tooth discoloration is caused by bacteria getting in the dental crown. It can also be the result of an inadequate seal on the crown.
Crowns can be used for a severely decayed tooth that can no longer be saved. Drilling the badly decayed section can often lead to cracks. Thus, protecting it with a crown can stop the decay from getting worse. When you misplaced any tooth in your mouth, the perfect treatment for proper restoration would be an implant.
Receding gums around the crown can indicate a bruxism habit, be a sign of gum disease, or an ill-fitting crown. Inflammation, pain, and odd smells can all be signs of tooth decay under the crown or gum disease. If your crown is loose, damaged, or has fallen out, you need to seek dental care as soon as possible.
When your dentist places a dental crown on your tooth, he or she will remove the majority of the original tooth to make new restoration. The chewing surface and some of the supporting structure remains after this process, which is why it's possible for your gum to grow back on crown.
The gray line around the edge of your old crowns is most probably caused by the metal edge of the crown showing through the gum.
Dentists can not see through a metal restoration in an x-ray (whether it is a crown/bridge or filling), thereby inhibiting their ability to diagnose or determine if there is a problem underneath. However, they can still see the root of the tooth so an x-ray is still needed.
Tooth decay might be caused when plaque is trapped underneath your crown or in the cracks of your teeth. This plaque is easily removed with regular brushing and flossing. If plaque is not removed from these areas, the decay process starts.
If any decayed tissue is left behind during a root canal procedure, it can spread into a larger cavity under the dental crown. This sometimes happens with molars, where the root system can be intricate and branch off into several tiny or curved canals.
However, if a tooth is severely damaged, your dentist may not be able to save it. In these cases, they will normally recommend that the tooth be removed. Dentists may recommend removal in the following circumstances: Dental injury resulting in a cracked or fractured tooth or root.
However, sometimes a cavity starts underneath a crown, and it no longer has a tight “seal” over the tooth. In other cases, a dental crown wasn't designed correctly and doesn't touch the adjacent teeth the way it should. Without a contact point, there's an open space that can easily collect food.
Gum Problems Around the Crown
However, the tooth roots are not covered by a dental crown and can still develop decay. If you have already had a root canal on that particular tooth, you will not be able to feel any pain from the decay, but your gums will indicate there is a problem.
The crown might look like a hat sitting on a hat rack, rather than a natural, secure fit. The crown is too tight between teeth, or doesn't make correct contact with surrounding teeth, causing food impaction and decay issues.
If the crown is damaged, the tooth beneath may become infected or discolored due to anything leaked into and trapped beneath the crown. This is likely the case if a crown's yellowed or stained appearance is not solved by brushing.
The average lifespan of a dental crown
Dental crowns should last around 15 years with proper maintenance. If patients take good care of the crown, they can last up to 30 years. Crowns made of porcelain can endure anywhere from 5 to 15 years.
Crown removal is not a painful procedure, and it doesn't take long for your dentist to remove it. Your dentist will not even use an anesthetic to remove and add in the permanent crown.
An odor originating from your crown is usually a sign that there is bacteria growth or an infection related to your crown. This bacteria can spring up due to a failed root canal or a crown that doesn't fit properly whether it is loose, cracked or there is a gap between adjacent teeth.
Poor hygiene can lead to plaque and buildup that forms around the crown. If this happens, the bacteria present can produce bad breath. Poorly sealed crown margins may lead to leakage in which bacteria can seep under the crown and cause decay. Decay around or under a crown can also lead to bad crown smells.
In most cases, a black line forms because the metal from the crown is showing through. Since older dental crowns are typically made of porcelain fused to metal, the metal will eventually become exposed as the gumline moves and recedes over time.