How to Know When to Replace Your Dental Crown

Dental crowns are versatile, durable dental restorations capable of dealing with all kinds of oral health problems. They look and feel incredibly natural, making them a common choice for patients who want to repair severely damaged teeth.

Having a dental crown placed requires removing a little bit of the natural enamel, which means that when a dental crown is close to failure, it needs to be replaced with another one to continue protecting the tooth. Here are a few signs that you may need to make that replacement soon.

Tooth Sensitivity

A lack of enamel on the tooth means that the sensitive root pulp isn’t protected as well from external factors, like temperature. This can cause a twinge of discomfort when biting down on something, especially hot or cold foods.

Under normal circumstances, the dental crown protects the tooth from these influences, taking on the role of the enamel that’s been removed. But if the integrity of the dental crown has been compromised, it can no longer do that.

If you start to notice that your tooth is unusually sensitive, that’s a good indicator that your dental crown needs replacing.

A Black Line Around the Gums

Until relatively recently, porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) dental crowns were the standard for tooth restorations. You can google these if you’ve never seen one—most of the crown is porcelain, but there’s a small metal ring at the bottom to provide support.

Patients who’ve gotten one of these crowns may have noticed their gums recede a bit since they first received them. This creates what looks like a small black ring around the base of your tooth. Your dental crown needs to be replaced if you want to get rid of this unsightly black ring.

Visible Damage

Of course, if you can see a crack or hole in your dental crown, it’s important to replace it. However, it can be hard to notice this kind of damage on your own, especially if the dental crown is all the way in the back of your mouth.

For that reason, you should prioritize seeing your dentist at least twice a year for checkups. They’ll be able to visually inspect your dental crown and discover any signs of failure before you do.

About the Author

Dr. Henry Lu believes that dentistry, like anything else, is about consistent effort. That’s why he shows up every day ready to help his patients maintain their beautiful smiles. Dr. Lu received his degree from the Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine. Today, he is a member of both the American Dental Association and the Texas Dental Association.

If you have any questions about dental crowns, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (469) 998-9822.