Dental crowns are proven to be a reliable and durable tooth restoration solution, with several cases having a 10 to 15-year lifespan. But certain conditions or habits can cause your crown to crack or chip thus requiring immediate replacement.

Understanding when and why a dental crown needs to be replaced is crucial for maintaining optimal oral health. This guide from your Upland dentist equips you with the knowledge that will allow you to optimize your dental care.

Read along to learn more!

Common reasons why tooth crowns fail early

 While dental materials and procedures have improved significantly, dental crowns can still fail, potentially causing complications that require additional treatment.

 There was once a study aimed to identify factors affecting the success of all-ceramic crowns.

 Data from 1,254 patients with all-ceramic crowns placed by 101 dentists were analyzed over more than 5 years.

Crowns were assessed for success (still functional and sufficient) and survival (still in use). Statistical models evaluated the impact of various factors on crown success and survival.

Over an average follow-up of 7.2 years, 776 crowns were deemed successful (annual failure rate of 8.4%), and 1,041 crowns survived (annual failure rate of 4.9%).

Based on the same study, factors related to the crown’s placement and materials, rather than patient or tooth-specific factors, were linked to crown failure.

Additionally, a systematic review of dental restorations, including crowns, found that a significant number of failures were due to recurring cavities. Cavities can thrive due to poorly-placed dental crown.

Failure in crown placement can then create gaps that permit bacteria to enter between the tooth and the crown.

When do you need to replace your dental crown?

Most dentists suggest replacing your dental crowns after ten years, though they may still last up to five more years. Dental crown replacement, however, might be recommended earlier when physical signs of crack or chip become more visible. Sometimes these cracks can accompany pain around the crown area and swelling, which is a clear indication of decay or infection, thus necessitating your dentist’s attention. Discoloration too can be tell-tale sign that your tooth crown needs replacement.

Cracks and chip

 Tooth crowns are subject to wear and tear. If you’ve built a habit of biting into hard objects like opening a bottle lid with your teeth, your crown will certainly be more prone to cracking. Some people have a condition called bruxism or teeth grinding which puts their tooth crowns at more risk of breaking or chipping.

Infection

 Although an infection under a tooth crown is not extremely common, it’s likelihood can be high. It can develop under a dental crown when bacteria invade the surrounding or underlying tooth area. Several factors can contribute to this, including a poorly fitted crown, inadequate oral care, or pre-existing tooth decay.

An infected crown can show the following symptoms:

• Redness around the site where the crown was placed
• Gum swelling
• Pain around the crown
• A yellowish or greenish leak around the crown
• Fever
• Bumps at the side of your neck
• A foul odor around the crown area resulting to bad breath

Dental crown discoloration

Dental crowns, particularly those made from materials like porcelain or ceramic, have a level of resistance to discoloration.

They aren’t impervious to stains, though, especially those caused by poor hygiene and bad habits such as smoking.

While crown discoloration doesn’t necessarily indicate decay or damage, it is still important to address this problem as it may affect your smile and confidence.

Stains leaving uneven shades to your teeth can become more noticeable, thus looking aesthetically unpleasing.

Being aware of these signs early on is essential to avoid further damage or harm to your teeth and your overall oral health.

Learning what may cause your dental crown to crack, chip, or become loose may not only save you time and money, but also help you retain a healthy tooth and avoid total crown failure.

What happens if you don’t replace a crown?

Remember the gazillion times we’ve been reminded not to leave our house doors open?

It might sound pretty annoying, but it’s a simple assignment we often fail to accomplish.

Any open or unprotected environment is always prone to intruders—just like your crowns.

When they become loose, cracked open, food debris can get stuck between those spaces harboring harmful bacteria. Like a thief in the night, it can creep around your crown area doing damage to your precious tooth. Burglars also leave an awful mark and vandalize those pearly whites.

It is also isn’t a good idea to chew food with a bad crown. Doing so would put your crown at risk of taking further damage. It may also lead to tooth sensitivity and gum irritation.

What should you do when your crown turns bad?

 The first thing you need to do when you notice signs of crown failure is to pay your dentist in Upland California a visit for a proper assessment. Not all crowns require replacement; some cases might only need a simple touch up or recementing, especially if the crown is still intact.

Nevertheless, you can avoid an unexpected appointment with your dentist by faithfully adhering to your dental crown maintenance. That involves brushing your teeth regularly, flossing, and avoiding consuming stain-inducing foods and beverages.

It will also help you keep your dental crowns in tip-top shape if you’ll treat them for what they are—artificial and vulnerable teeth materials.

Lastly, remember that most cases of crown failure were associated with poor placement, so you can’t understate the importance of choosing the right dentist to do the job!

Fortunately, you have our experts at Upland Dental Practice to put those worries away.

Book a free consultation with us now to get the best advice on dental crown maintenance and care.