Understanding Loose Dental Crown Issues
by Harold Coleman
If you have a severely damaged tooth in your mouth, then do not be surprised if your dentist tells you that you need a crown to repair the tooth. Dental crowns are meant to last a lifetime, but the tooth coverings will sometimes loosen. Keep reading to learn why this may happen and also what you can do about the issue.
Why Does A Dental Crown Loosen?
Dental crowns are made with the assistance of molds and high-tech dental equipment. This ensures a tight fit that is personalized to your specific tooth. When the crown is ready, it is cemented in place. The dental crown will bond with the cement and secure to your tooth. However, in some cases, there will be small gaps around the edge of the crown. Saliva can move into these gaps and wash out some of the cement.
A crown with washed out cement will not feel loose right away, but the crown will start to wiggle within a few months to a few years. In the meantime, food debris and bacteria are likely to force their way into the small gaps. This can cause a decay situation. You are likely to notice a foul odor coming from the crown first and this indicates that food is decaying or that your tooth is decaying.
How Can A Loose Crown Be Fixed?
Crowns can often be cemented back in place. However, your dentist will need to investigate the situation before this can happen. First, the reason for the loose crown is considered. If the crown was an ill fitting one, then a new mold may be required and a brand new crown might be created for you. Not only will the crown be inspected, but the underlying tooth will be looked over as well to see if any decay is present. If a cavity has formed, then the tooth will need to be treated before the crown is reattached.
Since fillings can change the shape of your tooth, a new mold and crown will typically need to be constructed to make sure the tooth covering fits correctly. If it does not, then you may experience another loose crown issue in the future.
When the crown is reattached, make sure to avoid extremely hot and cold foods and also chewy and hard foods for several days. This gives the dental cement time to cure and harden so your crown is likely to remain in place in the future.
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About Me
I have never liked my teeth. I had a lot of dental problems, including deep staining and oddly shaped teeth. Every tooth did not have the same shape, and some were rounded while others were more square. Not surprisingly, I never smiled in pictures and not even much in real life. This left people thinking I was mean before they even met me. My dentist told me my best bet to improve the look of my smile was a set of porcelain dental veneers. He said they could make all my teeth white and the same shape. I said I wanted them without any hesitation, and we scheduled my procedures. I love my new teeth, and they really did change my life. I created this blog to help other people living with teeth they don't like realize that they do have options that can improve their smiles and their lives.