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.
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. When tooth decay is significant, a root canal procedure may be necessary to save the crown's existing tooth structure.
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.
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 to tell if your tooth is rotting beneath a 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dental crowns are meant to last anywhere from 5 to 15 years. However, they are not invincible to decay and they need proper care.
If you have difficulty removing dental cement from the crown, you should consult your dentist. They will be able to help you remove the cement without damaging the dental crown at all.
Fillings, also called restorations, are the main treatment option when decay has progressed beyond the earliest stage. Fillings are made of various materials, such as tooth-colored composite resins, porcelain or dental amalgam that is a combination of several materials.
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.
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.
If you're someone with dental implants or a dental crown, we generally recommend not using an electric toothbrush at first. The vibration of an electric toothbrush has been known to loosen people's crowns and the retightening process can be difficult.
This blackline surrounding your gum occurs because light, which can pass through natural teeth, is unable to pass through the crown's metal, makes the crown's porcelain fusion look darker, and restricts the amount of light in the root and gum areas.
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.
In the anterior of the mouth crown preparations are usually done slightly under the gum-line in order to hide the margin of the crown. If this margin is exposed a dark line will appear. Sometimes people see this dark area and mistake it for decay, when in reality it is the metal showing near the gum line.
The tooth will have to undergo a root canal treatment. In such cases, your dentist will attempt a root canal through the crown. They do it just like they would over a natural crown – by drilling a hole through it and accessing the pulp chamber. The tooth is then sealed off with a permanent restoration.
While there is no exact number of crowns that is too many, your dental care treatment may need an overhaul if you've exceeded a limit set by your dentist. You may be able to avoid crowns in the future if you take better care of your teeth or if you undergo necessary oral surgery.
As soon as you notice pain, swelling, or inflammation surrounding a crowned tooth, it's time to see a dentist. For example, if you notice increased pain or sensitivity when chewing, your crown could be too high on the tooth, damaged, old, or in need of replacement.
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.
Fixing a Cavity Under a Dental Crown
If a cavity is along the margin of a dental crown and does not go very deep into the tooth, it might be able to be fixed with normal dental filling material. In most other cases, the dental crown probably will need to be removed, the cavity filled, and a new crown placed on top.