How to Know When Your Dental Crown Should Be Replaced

On average, dental crowns last 15-20 years. With proper care, they may hold up even longer.

Our expert dentists at Smile Bright Dental, with offices in Tampa and New Port Richey, Florida, create new and replacement crowns to help maintain the beauty and health of your smile.

When do you need a crown?

Crowns support your teeth in many ways. Made from porcelain-fused-to-metal, ceramic, all-porcelain, or metal, crowns protect your teeth from further decay. Crowns also:

• Cap a worn tooth
• Support a dental bridge
• Cover discolored teeth
• Complete an implant
• Improve the look of your smile

Our team ensures your teeth remain protected by installing the best crown option for you.

Signs of the time

Sometimes, a crown needs to be replaced. Indications include:

Decay on the tooth beneath your crown

If our team notices decay revealed by dental X-rays or you feel pain beneath your crown, it may be time for a new cap.

Loose crown

If your crown starts to feel wobbly, alert your dentist. A loose-fitting crown enables more food, plaque, and bacteria to reach your underlying tooth, potentially causing problems.

Broken cap

Although crowns are quite durable, they remain susceptible to breakage over time. Be careful not to bite down on hard substances such as ice or non-food objects.

Worn crown

Our team installs crowns to cover worn teeth. Sometimes, however, the crown itself becomes worn due to night grinding during sleep or other issues. We may recommend a mouthguard to keep you from nighttime clenching.

Improperly seated crown

If your crown doesn’t cover your tooth entirely to your gum line, it opens the door for bacteria and other harmful substances. This may lead to decay, gum disease, and even cause you to require a root canal or lose your tooth entirely. 

Symptoms of a poorly fitting crown include sensitivity, pain, and swelling. Be sure to let your doctor know if you experience any of these issues.

How to maintain your crown

With the proper care, your crown should last for decades. We suggest you:

• Avoid sticky or hard-to-chew foods
• Don’t bite down on ice cubes
• Brush at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
• Floss after meals or at the end of the day
• Use an antibacterial mouthwash to ward off plaque and harmful bacteria
• Wear a mouthguard at night if you grind your teeth

We help ensure your crowns and teeth remain in good shape through regular dental exams and cleanings.

How we replace an existing crown

The process of replacing a crown, aside from removing the old one, is similar to fitting it in the first place. Your provider:

• Removes your original crown
• Evaluates your underlying tooth for decay and/or breakage
• Prepares your tooth for a new crown
• Makes a digital or physical mold to send to the lab to build your new crown
• Creates a temporary crown for you to wear that day

When your new crown is ready, you return for a second appointment. Your provider checks the fit before cementing it onto your remaining tooth surface.

Your crowning glory

Regular exams and cleanings remain essential to ensuring your teeth, crowns, and gums remain in tip-top shape. 

Our team at Smile Bright Dental keeps you smiling with an array of preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry. To schedule an exam or cleaning or discuss any dental concerns, give us a call today or request an appointment online at any time.