Broken or decayed teeth are not only a damper to your smile but can also affect your overall oral health. Luckily, innovative procedures in cosmetic dentistry have transformed how dentists approach damaged teeth. One of the most popular is the dental crown. The dental crown in Spokane, WA, is a tooth-shaped cap that is placed over a broken, damaged, or decaying tooth to restore it. Dental crowns can be made out of metal, porcelain, or resin material, and they are an excellent option for repairing or strengthening broken or damaged teeth.
Spokane dental crowns are a great way to protect a tooth that is too damaged for a dental filling. With proper dental hygiene, crowns can last a good while, but there is a myth floating around that claims that the crown can completely protect the damaged tooth underneath. This is simply false and can ultimately lead to losing the damaged tooth entirely.
Decay Underneath The Crown Can Be Detrimental
When properly utilized, dental crowns work by covering and protecting a damaged tooth. What most people do not realize is that infections and decay can start at the gum line, which also happens to be the weak spot in the crown. When you eat, drink, and do not properly brush and floss afterward, food can collect at the margin where the crown meets the gum line. This is especially true with crowns that could be better made, as that margin between the crown and the gum line will be more significant.
Crowns in Spokane, WA, made with modern materials that can be thinner at the margins and properly placed, will have minimal margins and won’t collect much in the way of food or plaque.
Gum Disease Plays A Role
Another factor that can play into this is gum disease. Gum disease initially causes inflammation and bleeding of the gums. If left untreated, this can lead to periodontal disease, which causes the gum line to recede. A receding gum line means that the margin between the crown and gum line becomes even more exposed and leaves the damaged tooth vulnerable to infection. This can lead to various dental health issues that you would rather avoid.
It’s Vital That You Take Action
If you believe you have decay under a dental crown in Spokane, WA – or you are experiencing pain at the site of the crown – a cavity may be at bay. You should visit the best general dentist in Spokane, Dr. Collins of Collins Dentistry & Aesthetics, to see what treatment will fit your individual situation.
Early detection of decay can prevent further damage to the tooth and crown on top of it. We recommend that you schedule an appointment as soon as you begin to experience tooth pain or any visible symptoms of decay. A visit to Dr. Collins will allow you to take control of your dental health and stop further deterioration of your tooth and dental crown.
We can also detect any other oral health issues that are apparent while resolving your dental crown decay. Your Spokane general dentist may suggest one of the following treatment options for decay under a crown:
Filling
We may remove the cavity underneath your dental crown and replace it with a filling, which fills the hole the cavity leaves behind with a composite resin. A filling will help to strengthen the tooth.
Crown Replacement
If the decay is significant enough, you may need to have the current crown replaced. It may have to be larger in size to cover more area that was affected by the decay.
Tooth Extraction
For more severe cases, the entire tooth may have to be extracted. Dr. Collins may recommend this if the decay under the dental crown in Spokane is too severe and the tooth is beyond fixable.
How to Save the Crown with Preventative Care in Spokane?
The first step to combating dental crown decay is prevention. We advise using the following tips to keep your dental crowns, teeth, and oral health in general in the best shape possible:
- Maintain your dental hygiene. This is the best way to save the crown and the damaged tooth underneath. Make sure to brush and floss regularly.
- Be mindful of your eating. There are many foods and drinks that can help promote good dental health, such as cranberries and even wasabi!
- And most importantly, schedule regular visits with your Spokane general dentist. Receiving routine dental cleanings and general dental care in Spokane, WA, can help to eliminate tooth decay under your dental crowns and keep your overall oral health in excellent condition.
If you need an appointment, please contact us online or call us at 509-532-1111. Dr. Collins is ready to resolve any dental crown decay you are experiencing – and restore your oral health and confidence!
