At Beacon Family Dentistry in Jacksonville, Dr. Lysandro Tapnio offers exquisite dental crowns that last and guidance about when a dental crown needs replacement.
How long your dental crown lasts depends on the materials used to make your crown, your occlusion (bite), the presence of any dental decay under the crown or in the roots of the tooth, and the presence of any gum disease. It may also depend on the quality of the dentistry you have received in the past.
If you have consistently good oral hygiene, regular professional dental cleanings, regular dental checkups, and comply with recommendations for treatment of any problems that develop in your mouth, a dental crown could last the rest of your life, but this also depends on the occlusal forces impacting the tooth.
If your upper and lower teeth are mal-opposed, i.e., they don’t fit together properly, you may have excessive wear occur on the occlusal surfaces as a result of normal chewing and nighttime bruxism (teeth grinding). Bruxism, in general, can put stress on crowns. People with malocclusion and/or bruxism may suffer with early crown wear or damage.
Dental plaque has a tendency to collect around the base of crowns faster than unrestored healthy teeth. If the gum tissue around the base of your crown recedes, it will leave a dark line and increase the risk of dental decay occurring in the roots and under the crown.
A crown may be replaced for cosmetic reasons and to preserve the health of the tooth after the crown becomes worn and/or the surrounding gum tissue recedes.
If Dr. Tapnio see signs of wear occurring on your teeth and crowns, he may recommend improving your occlusion through modification of the tops of your teeth and possibly realignment of teeth with a course of orthodontics. Dr. Tapnio may also recommend that you wear a custom made bite splint that keeps your teeth comfortably apart during the night, relaxing jaw muscles and halting the destructive forces of nighttime teeth grinding.
If you are due for a dental exam or concerned about an existing dental crown, Dr. Tapnio will be happy to examine you and provide the counsel you need. If you have a dental crown that breaks or a crowned tooth that becomes painful, you need urgent care, so give us a call, and we will find you the soonest available appointment.
