Please see our Accessibility Notice page and install Free Assistive Technology if needed
While dental crowns can look like idealized versions of teeth, improving upon the cosmetics of your smile, they often play an important role in saving a natural tooth that’s been compromised through damage, large fillings, or root canals.
The truth is, dental crowns have a wide range of applications in the dental field, including aesthetics, restoration, and even dental implants. We’re fully versed in the uses of crowns at Central Avenue Dental, with three locations in New York City and Valley Stream, New York.
While crowns are a dependable and flexible tool in our dental toolkit, one shortcoming compared to natural teeth is their life expectancy. Though crowns last for years, they’re not permanent, and they sometimes need replacement.
It’s important to know when to have your dental crown replaced. We’ve prepared this guide to help you recognize the signs that it’s time.
Though dental crowns have many uses, today we’re discussing crowns used to reinforce compromised teeth. These are cemented over top of a natural tooth, becoming a protective shell. Should this shell begin to fail, there are potential complications.
Crowns, made from materials like porcelain, composite resin, and metal, are custom-made to fit over a tooth that’s been reshaped to receive them. We cement the permanent version of your restorative crown over the prepared tooth.
The life of the tooth depends on factors like your oral health, where in the mouth the crown is, and the material the crown is made from. While the average lifespan of a crown is 10 years, it’s possible that, with care, yours can last decades.
Catching the signs of a crown that’s in need of replacement usually makes the repair less complicated and less expensive in some cases. Let’s discuss four of the common signs that your crown may need attention.
It’s hard to tell the difference between your new crown and neighboring teeth, but its appearance can change as time passes. The crown may discolor or stain, or a dark outline may develop between the crown and gumline.
Crowns aren’t invulnerable even when new. Natural wear and tear happens over time, and habits like bruxism (teeth grinding) can wear down crowns just as it does natural teeth. Chips and cracks can also affect crowns, though we may be able to repair moderate damage with dental bonding. Contact us at the first sign of visible damage to your crown.
Unseen damage to the crown can provide an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, leading to decay of the natural tooth underneath. Tooth sensitivity or pain can be warning signs that your crown is no longer fully protecting the natural tooth. Tell us about any changes to temperature sensitivity as soon as they occur.
The cement used to bond your crown in place can weaken as the years pass. When you notice that the crown is shifting or, worse, if it comes off, it’s time for an urgent visit. Often, we can replace the crown with new cement if it’s undamaged and remains in good condition.
Contact Central Avenue Dental for any and all crown-related needs. Call or click to book your visit today.
