Placing a crown over a tooth does not mean that you are totally free from other dental problems. There are certain problems that you may experience after getting a dental crown, some of these problems are related specifically to crown. In most cases, after the crowning procedure, it is common to experience pain and sensitivity if the procedure was not done properly. The toothache and discomforts may occur immediately after the crown is placed or develop months to years later.
After getting a dental crown, proper aftercare is crucial for maintaining the crown, tooth, and oral hygiene. Here are some potential problems that you may experience after getting a dental crown from your dentist.
Problems associated with dental crown
Cavities Under Crowns
Even with a dental crown, you aren’t totally safe from developing cavities. Due to poor oral hygiene, cavity can develop at the border of the tooth and the crown, even at the edge of a filling. As we already know, cavity is usually caused by tooth decay. One of the common causes of cavity is excessive accumulation of dental plaque and bacteria on the tooth and along the gum lines. As the decay progresses, it spreads beneath the crown or deeply into the tooth beneath the crown. Cavities under the crown can damage the nerve tissue, causing them to become inflamed and painful.
Dead tooth under crown
Normally, a dentist often recommends dental crowns for restoring teeth damaged by large cavities. Before the installation of a dental crown over a decayed or damaged tooth, root canal treatment is very necessary. The main cause of carrying out a root canal treatment is to remove decay and infection within the tooth’s pulp cavity, which can cause pain for weeks.
When dental crowns are placed on decayed teeth without proper root canal treatment, the living parts of the tooth can die. This can result in the need for dental intervention, such as the removal of the crown and the entire tooth. An infection within the crown can spread to the roots, causing inflammation and tissue necrosis in the root. It is important to prioritize dental hygiene to prevent such complications.
Gums recession
As more time passes, the gums around a crowned tooth can recede. Gums recession leads to the exposure of the tooth’s root, causing a severe tooth sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks. Even without a crown, the gums are likely to receed due to forces from aggressive tooth brushing and infection.
Excessive accumulation of plaque and bacteria along the gum lines can also make the gums to receed. In most cases, cement leakage at the edge of the crown can inhabit lots of harmful bacteria in the tooth. The accumulation of plaque and bacteria around an improper fitted dental crown can lead to gums recession, tooth sensitivity, gum disease, cavities and toothache.
What’s Next?
Sometimes, there is a relationship between crown placement and the need for root canal therapy. Before placing a crown, the dentist will tests the tooth in order to evaluate the health of a tooth ‘s nerve tissue. Unfortunately, some of these results after a dental evaluation are often vague and difficult to interpret. Your dentist will most likely refrain from recommending root canal treatment for fear of performing an unnecessary procedure . (1)
Well, the best thing you should do is to see your dentist as soon as possible if you develop a toothache or extreme sensitivity in your crowned tooth. Early diagnosis and detection of the source of the pain is necessary when dealing with pain associated with dental crown. If the pain is caused by infection, your dentist may need to recommend some antibiotics and replace the crown. The infection may continue to spread and involve a large area like the jaw bone and tissues of the face if it’s left untreated.
Richard Smith is a Registered Nutritionist and also a Health Speaker. Richard Smith graduated from The City University of New York. You can learn more about him by Visiting His LinkedIn Page or Follow him on Twitter.
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