With an estimated 15 million people globally receiving crowns yearly, there is bound to be a need to replace a few. Modern dental technology has made replacing crowns much easier and less painful. Knowing when a dental crown should be replaced and why will let you catch it early and save yourself from needless pain.
🦷 Lifespan of a Dental Crown
Average Lifespan Expectations
Dental crowns are extremely common worldwide. Their lifespan depends on how well you maintain your oral hygiene and the materials from which they are made. Taking good care of your crowns by maintaining proper oral hygiene can make them last from five to fifteen years.
Sometimes a crown will need to be replaced more than once. As long as the tooth is in good condition, replacing the crown shouldn’t be a problem. Keep in mind that before any crown is installed, the tooth will need to be prepped by removing part of the natural tooth structure to ensure it is healthy enough to hold the crown.
Whenever a dental crown replacement is done, there is a risk of damaging the tooth as the old crown is removed. There can also be damage to the tooth’s pulp that results in a root canal being needed, along with increased tooth sensitivity.
Factors Influencing Durability
The quality of your chewing with a crown and the duration you have had it will determine how many dental crown replacements you may need throughout your life. Where the crown is placed in your mouth, and the materials used in making your crown need to be considered before the dental crown is replaced.
Regularly scheduled check-ups allow your crown specialist to examine the crowns and assess damage early. The sooner the wear and tear on the crown is seen, the easier the replacement will be on the tooth.
The use of durable crown material can increase the crown’s lifespan. The more durable the crown is, the longer it will last. Our laboratory at Shtern Dental Clinic enables us to handcraft each crown using precise measurements, ensuring an accurate and leakproof fit.
💡 Smile Protection Tip
When getting a smile makeover with zirconia crowns, it’s important to use a night guard to protect them and ensure their longevity.
🔍 Recognizing Signs for Replacement
Knowing when to contact your tooth specialist can save you from needing other dental work before a new crown can be applied. Any one of the following is a reason to make an appointment.
💥 Pain or Discomfort
Discomfort in the area around the tooth or the tooth itself could be due to tooth decay or damage to the part of the tooth that remains. Pain that accompanies chewing is another symptom of tooth decay.
🛠️ Visible Wear and Tear
Flatness on the chewing portion of the crown or a dull appearance compared to the rest of the crown may suggest that the crown needs to be replaced.
🔨 Cracks or Chips
Chipping and cracking of a crown or a rough edge, which you can feel as your tongue goes over it, means the crown has been compromised. This is common in crowns if you chew aggressively, eat hard foods, or grind your teeth when sleeping.
🎨 Change in Appearance or Discoloration
If the crown is discolored or has visible cracks, there may be damage to the tooth structure or tooth decay. A cracked crown allows bacteria to grow underneath it, which can lead to tooth decay, an infection, or more severe complications.
🔧 Shifting or Loose Crown
It is not uncommon for a crown to shift or become loose. It happens over time and is caused by wear and tear on the crown. At the first sign of the crown moving, even if slightly, you feel a sensation when chewing you never had before, or the alignment feels off when you bite down on food, you need to see your dentist. These are signs that the crown is loose or has shifted.
🍽️ Altered Bite or Discomfort While Chewing
Teeth malalignment and an altered bite play a major role in dental crown replacement. Both can affect the wear and tear on your teeth. This gives the dentist an idea of how often and how many times a crown may need to be replaced. Crowns are used to stabilize these teeth while protecting the tooth’s structure.
Teeth that are in correct alignment can stabilize the teeth and are less likely to need a crown.
🦷 Root Canal Failure
Often, a root canal is performed before a crown is placed on the tooth. Despite the tooth being dead, an infection can still develop in the tooth. This may begin with redness and swelling at the site of the root canal. It can become painful and, in severe cases, an abscess can develop.
🦷 Impact of Gum Health
Keeping your gums healthy and maintaining good oral hygiene is the best way to keep your crown in good health.
⚠️ Receding Gum Line
Ensuring your gums are healthy is the best way to stabilize your crowns. It will also ensure you get the longest life out of your crowns. Gums that are inflamed or receding can cause the crown to destabilize, requiring a dental crown replacement. Seeing your dental specialist on a regular schedule will help catch early signs of receding or swollen gums.
🔥 Inflammation or Tenderness
A sign that the gums around your crowned tooth are tender and inflamed at the crown’s base is suggestive of decay that may have caused inflammation or infection.
⚠️ Consequences of Ignoring Warning Signs
⚡ Potential for Tooth Decay
Decayed teeth are more common than you might think. Research has shown that approximately twenty percent of all crowns become decayed twenty years after placement.
- A top-notch oral hygiene routine is necessary for healthy teeth. Decaying teeth can become severely infected, and they can spread to the tooth’s root or jawbone.
- Teeth with advanced decay often require removal, making a dental implant a necessary option.
- Abscesses can cause swelling of the gums, fever, pain, and the formation of pus pockets in the gums or below the tooth.
- Hot and cold sensitivity, constant tooth pain, and holes you see in the tooth or feel with your tongue are signs that the tooth itself needs restoration and a crown.
🌡️ Risk of Gum Disease
Once you have crowns in place, you need to continue an effective oral hygiene routine. Poorly maintained crowns can lead to gum disease. If you notice any of the following symptoms, consult your dentist immediately.
- Bad breath: If you have halitosis despite maintaining a good oral hygiene routine, it could indicate an infection at the gum site.
- Gum swelling and redness: Reddened gums could be a sign of an allergy to the material used in your crown, but with redness and swelling, it may also indicate a possible infection.
- Gum discomfort or sensitive tooth: Gum discomfort and sensitivity in the gum around the crown is not normal and should be checked immediately.
- Bleeding gums: If the gums around your crown bleed when you brush or floss, you may be getting gum disease.
- Receding gums: A poorly fitting crown can cause gum recession at the crown line, but it can also be the start of gum disease. It’s best to get it checked out, as neither of these options is good.
🦷 When to Seek a Dental Consultation
Scheduled check-ups are performed to detect tooth decay and assess the condition of crowns. If you have swelling, pain, or discomfort of the tooth or gums, bleeding gums, discoloration of the tooth, your bite feels different, or your crown is moving, you should seek a dental consultation.
Are you in need of dental restoration but want to take a relaxing vacation? Cancun, Mexico, is the perfect destination. The Shtern Dental Clinic, located in Cancún, welcomes patients from all over the world. Why not enjoy the sand, sun, and beach while having your teeth restored? Our bilingual staff is eager to help you through the process and set up a consultation today!
Shtern Dental Clinic is the perfect dental restoration destination!
