When Do Dental Crowns Need Replacement?

If you think your dental crown no longer looks beautiful in your smile, it may be time for a new crown.

Dr. Manu Sachdev is New Port Richey’s “go to” dentist for a new dental crown. With advanced training and extensive experience in endodontics (treatment of tooth roots) and crown and bridge treatments, Dr. Sachdev will evaluate the viability and appearance of your dental restorations and recommend the most appropriate next step to preserve your oral health and improve the appearance of your smile.

The life of a dental crown depends on your oral health condition, diet and eating habits, whether you grind your teeth at night, home and professional oral care, and the material used to make the crown. All-porcelain and porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crowns typically last five to 15 years. A metal crown may last up to 20 years or longer. Zirconia crowns and gold crowns can endure a lifetime.

If your upper and lower teeth don’t fit together properly, you may have excessive wear on the occlusal surfaces (on the tops of teeth) 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 are more likely to have early crown wear and even a fracture.

If Dr. Sachdev sees signs of wear occurring on your teeth and crowns, he may recommend one or more treatments that go beyond replacing a crown to improving your occlusion through modification of the tops of your teeth or orthodontics. He may recommend that you wear a custom-fit acrylic bite splint (night guard) that keeps your teeth comfortably apart during the night, relaxing jaw muscles and halting destructive forces.

Over time, the gum tissue at the base of a crown may become inflamed. If gum health is compromised for a period of time, you will develop a “gum pocket” or have gum tissue recession. When tooth roots are exposed to dental plaque, decay can then occur under the crown.

A common cosmetic concern is the the development of a dark line around the base of a crown. This tell tale line indicates that you have had some gum recession and are at higher risk of gum recession and dental caries in the remaining tooth structure.

If you have had previous root canal therapy on a crowned tooth, you still might have dental decay destroy tooth structure that supports your crown. If you have not had previous root canal therapy on a crowned tooth, dental decay that reaches dental nerves can be extremely painful. In either case, tooth extraction may be required.

At Orange Grove Dental, Dr. Manu Sachdev offers affordable treatment at lower cost than most dental practices without sacrificing long-lasting quality. Give us a call today!