As great as dental crowns are, you still need to switch them out every so often. These caps can fail for various reasons and have limited lifespans; they don’t last forever. With that said, just how do you tell when it’s time to replace one? You can quickly grasp the answer with help from your New Lenox dentist. To do so, just keep reading to learn four signs that you should replace your dental crown.
You Have Receding Gums
If the gums around your crown are receding, that’s not good news. This recession could mean you need to replace your tooth’s cap.
A receding gumline often points to a faulty dental crown. When this cap is poorly placed, it can irritate your gum tissue to the point that your gums recede. This process would then put you at high risk of various oral health issues – tooth decay, oral infections, etc. To avoid such problems, you’d need to replace the old dental crown with a new one.
Your Bite Feels “Off”
An uneven bite isn’t something you should ignore. Among other things, it may indicate that your dental crown should be replaced.
You see, your bite should feel normal when your crown is fitted and placed. Having a new cap on your tooth shouldn’t suddenly destabilize or skew it. If your bite feels uneven over time, your crown may have problems that warrant adjustment or replacement.
The Crowned Tooth Aches
Once your crowned tooth is aching, it may be time to replace your crown. That pain could be a sign your dental cap isn’t working properly.
To be specific, pain in a crowned tooth could show that your crown is damaged. Broken or cracked crowns often expose their underlying teeth, resulting in pain, swelling, and tenderness. A given crown can also wear down until certain parts of it poke your mouth.
Your Crown is Pretty Old
Even if nothing seems wrong with your dental crown, you should replace it when it’s old. The treatment will be less effective once it’s reached its full lifespan.
Don’t forget that a dental crown suffers wear and tear over time. By the time it’s worked for ten years or so, it won’t be very good at protecting your tooth. You should even have your dentist closely monitor the cap at that time; they’ll know if it needs replacing.
By knowing the signs you should replace your dental crown, you can better protect your smile. Remember that fact as you look after your special cap!
About the Practice
Atrium Family Dental of New Lenox is based in New Lenox, IL. Led by Drs. Albert, Snow, and Feller, our practice is always ready to help its patients smile. We thus offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments tailored to your unique oral needs. That way, you and your family will sport fantastic teeth and gums after each appointment! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (815)-462-9990.