However, what patients may not know is that tooth decay under a dental crown is still possible. Like natural teeth, not maintaining proper oral hygiene and allowing bacteria and plaque to accumulate is why tooth decay under a dental crown is an issue.
If you get decay under a crown issues may occur that affect your oral health. Issues such as bad breath and sore gums may develop or the decay may extend deeper into the tooth, causing dental infection and may even mean the tooth cannot be saved!
A crown is connected to a natural tooth underneath it. Because of this, decay can form around the edges of a crown. The only way to permanently fix a crown with decay around the edges is to remove the old crown, remove the decay, and do a new crown.
Redness at or around the site of the crown placement. Swelling of the gums or jaw around the area that now has the crown. Tenderness or pain around the crown. Unusual warmth that you only feel in one area of your mouth and is unrelated to any hot food or drink that you may have just had.
Treatment for an Infection
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dental crowns are meant to last anywhere from 5 to 15 years. However, they are not invincible to decay and they need proper care.
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.
Not enough healthy tooth structure – If most of the tooth is damaged or decayed and building it up for a crown will not work, a dentist may recommend removing it. Not enough space for a crown – When a broken or worn tooth goes untreated for years, other teeth may shift.
Brown and Grey Spots in the Affected Area
Brown and grey spot formations are a distinct visual indicator of a potential infection or tooth decay under a dental crown. Spots can be visible on the white portion of a veneer, almost appearing like mould.
It is very challenging to remove dental cement with dental crowns. For this, the dentists tend to gently move the crown until the adhesive seal is wholly broken. Although dental cement removal is a painless procedure, it requires a slow evaluation of your oral health conditions.
Temporary crown removal is straightforward. The dentist near you will use a soft adhesive to make it easy to remove the crowns. Permanently crowns are, however, challenging to remove. The process may be more complicated than the first procedure.
Coronectomy is a technique used for wisdom teeth surgery where only the crown is extracted and the root/roots are left in situ. This procedure may be controversial, but it could limit the common risks of the extraction procedure.
What causes tooth crown pain? Infection – patients who have dental crown procedures that have also not previously undergone a root canal, means that their tooth still has roots. If a crown is applied incorrectly or is the wrong size, it can put pressure on the nerve and roots of the tooth, which can lead to infection.
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.
After a dental crown is placed over the tooth's crown, this part of the tooth is no longer susceptible to decay. However, the tooth roots are not covered by a dental crown and can still develop decay.
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.
A periapical tooth abscess occurs when bacteria invade the dental pulp. The pulp is the innermost part of the tooth that contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue. Bacteria enter through either a dental cavity or a chip or crack in the tooth and spread all the way down to the root.
Decaying under a Crown can affect your oral health and cause issues like bad breath or sore gums. In addition, the decay can spread deep into the tooth, causing an infection that may require tooth removal.
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.