Tooth Decay and Dental Crowns: What You Need to Know
Dental crowns can be used for a variety of reasons. They might be purely cosmetic when used to achieve uniformity in your smile. They might also be used when a large cavity or other type of degradation has affected the tooth in question. The problem is repaired and then covered with the crown for added stability and improved aesthetics. When a crown is applied to a natural tooth, there's a small chance that it might be affected if a cavity was to develop underneath the crown. So how do you know if this is happening to you? And what can you do about it?
Discolouration
While the crown is designed for longevity and will not be directly susceptible to decay, the underlying tooth can still degrade to the point where the crown will become unstable. If you have had a cavity before, you will familiar with the dark colour that will develop on your tooth. The crown will cover the majority of this discolouration, so you will need to carefully inspect the tooth in question. Look at the gum line, directly at the base of the tooth. Has the edge of the crown become visible with a dark colour at the gum line? This indicates that the tooth has degraded, as the edge of the crown should not usually be visible. Depending on which tooth you're examining, it might be possible to check either side of the tooth as the visible discolouration at the edge of the crown might only be evident on one side.
A Loose Crown
Has the crown become loose? This is not necessarily a symptom of degradation of the underlying tooth, but it can be a good indicator. You will most likely notice this when eating or brushing your teeth. Please refrain from poking the loose crown with your tongue as this will make it worse. In extreme cases, degradation of the underlying tooth can cause a crown to fall off. If this happens, please do not place the crown back into your mouth as you might end up swallowing it. Retain the crown as your dentist might be able to reattach it.
See Your Dentist as Soon as possible
If you notice discolouration at the gum line or a loose crown, you really need to see your dentist as soon as you can. The crown will need to be removed, and the underlying tooth will have to be repaired. The crown can then be reattached. In some cases, post-repair changes to the surface of the underlying tooth can mean that a new crown will need to be made.
While your dental crown is extremely strong, the underlying tooth can still be affected by decay. Ensure that you look after your teeth to prevent this from happening, and if you notice any issues with your crown, please see your dentist to have the issue repaired.
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