Oral bacteria are tricky little rascals, and they can make their way underneath a crown, particularly if the person does not have good oral hygiene. When these bacteria get underneath the crown, they begin to convert any sugars that make their way into the crown to acids that eat away at enamel.
Brushing two times a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Flossing daily. Using a mouthwash. Adding a water flosser to your regimen – they're especially effective around crowns and bridges.
Tooth sensitivity to temperatures (hot or cold) or sugary foods and drinks. Pain or tenderness in the areas surrounding the crown. Increasing redness at the area of crown placement. A discharge of yellow, green, or clear fluid or pus that appears to be draining or leaking out around or under the crown.
Oral bacteria can make their way underneath a crown if a person does not practice good oral hygiene. Similar to regular tooth decay, when bacteria enter the underneath of a crown, they convert sugars to acids that eat away the crown's enamel, resulting in a tooth that can rot away.
Infections. Your tooth still has nerves if you didn't undergo root canal treatment before dental crown placement. At times the crown pressurizes the traumatized nerve, and infections occur. The infection can also result from old fillings beneath the crown leaking bacteria.
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.
Tooth decay under the crown
Because the tooth under the dental crown is still alive, tooth decay or a new cavity can form at the border of the tooth and the crown. This can lead to persistent pain in the area. If a tooth cavity grows large enough and affects the nerve, you might need a root canal procedure.
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. In some cases, the dentist will be able to notice the infection right away. On the other hand, an in-depth oral examination may be necessary.
If you experience pain under a dental crown, it results from infections causing discomfort when chewing or biting, tooth sensitivity, and swelling of your gums. Conditions in your mouth are never pleasant and are best addressed as soon as you start developing the early symptoms.
When you are suffering from a tooth infection, you may want an easy solution, such as a course of antibiotics. However, antibiotics won't cure your tooth infection.
A tooth abscess won't go away without treatment. If the abscess ruptures, the pain may improve a lot, making you think that the problem has gone away — but you still need to get dental treatment. If the abscess doesn't drain, the infection may spread to your jaw and to other areas of your head and neck.
While it does not happen very often, it is possible for a tooth to still get infected after undergoing a root canal procedure. There are a few different reasons why re-infection can occur, making it essential for every dental patient to understand these reasons so they can avoid experiencing another tooth infection.
You may experience some complications after your crown is placed. Some problems include sensitivity, discomfort or an allergic reaction to the metals. Your crown can also chip, become loose or fall off. You should contact your dentist if any problems develop after getting a dental crown.
Treatment for decay or infection below a crown may entail: Removing the existing crown. Addressing the decay by filling or extracting the remainder of the tooth. Creating a new crown to accommodate the filling and what remains of the tooth.
How do you clean under a crown? Good flossing technique keeps plaque from causing issues. Floss should be threaded and moved through the space between the crown and the gumline. Regular brushing also helps clean around the crown.
Brush your crown twice a day and we would recommend using an electric tooth brush rather than a manual one. This will provide a more thorough clean and brush for a minimum of two minutes during each session to keep the crown clean.
It is very rare that an old crown can be saved or reused since it will typically need to be cut into sections as it is removed from the tooth. For your comfort, the tooth and gum tissue will be numbed with a local anesthetic during this procedure.
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.
If your crown is failing, then you may notice a change in how your crowned tooth feels when you bite down, drink something, or run your tongue over your tooth. If you notice any movement, then you need to see a dentist right away, because crowns should not move at all.
Additionally, X-rays pass directly through porcelain, meaning that when patients receive X-rays on porcelain crowns, dentists can actually see what is occurring underneath the crown and diagnose potential problems before they destroy unnecessary tooth structure and potentially cause root canals.
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.
If you do have one before having your tooth it crowned, the nerve inside the tooth will be dead and will not transmit any pain. Otherwise, you will still be able to feel the tooth as usual.
It may be that the crown has not bonded properly to your tooth, or has become infected due to improper placement. Either way, you should seek the attention of your dentist if pain persists or gets worse after two weeks.
If you are experiencing pain under a crown, it is always best advised to contact your dentist as soon as possible. The cause of the pain may be from something as simple as an adjustment that needs to be made, or it could be a sign of a more severe problem like a fracture or an infection.
Your crown could be putting pressure on a traumatized nerve and if an infection occurs, it can be painful. One cause of infections could come from previous fillings that may have had leakages resulting in bacteria infecting the nerve root.