Can Teeth Whitening Damage My Enamel?
Teeth whitening can lift away years of stains and help your smile look its absolute best. But can whitening damage the layer of enamel that protects your teeth? Here’s the surprising answer.
Signs You Need to Replace Your Crowns
Dental crowns play an essential role in protecting and restoring teeth damaged by wear-and-tear, trauma, or deep decay, enhancing tooth integrity, and improving the appearance of your smile. They’re also ideal for restoring a tooth following root canal therapy and for supporting a dental bridge.
Made of durable materials, like porcelain or zirconia ceramic, crowns are designed to look, feel, and function just like your natural teeth. But even though they’re strong, crowns aren’t impervious to damage, and sometimes, they need to be replaced. Knowing when to replace a crown is important for protecting your teeth and avoiding future oral health problems.
Minal Patel, DDS, is experienced in crown procedures, helping patients at Park Place Smiles enjoy healthier, more beautiful smiles. In this post, she reviews some common signs that could mean it’s time to replace your old crown with a new one.
1. Visible damage
A cracked or broken crown is probably the most obvious reason to replace a crown. While crowns are durable, they’re not impervious to damage, and if your crown has a visible crack or chip, it definitely needs to be replaced. Not only can a damaged crown detract from your beautiful smile, but it can also change your bite balance and expose your tooth to decay and infection.
One of the easiest ways to tell if your crown needs to be replaced is physical damage. If you have a chipped, cracked, or worn down crown, those changes can compromise its protective benefits. Without proper treatment, a damaged crown can lead to bite misalignment and jaw strain or leave your tooth vulnerable to decay or infection.
2. Developing oral health issues
Crowns are designed to snugly hug your tooth. If the tooth under your crown develops a problem, like a cavity or infection, the crown might need to be removed to treat that issue. In some instances, we can place the same crown back on your tooth. Other times, we’ll need to make a new crown.
3. Pain or discomfort
Crowns are designed to feel just like your natural tooth, which means once your crown is applied, you shouldn't even know it’s there. If you start to develop pain or soreness in or around your treated tooth, or if you develop jaw strain or soreness, your crown could be loose, worn, or not fitting properly. A new crown can relieve your symptoms and prevent further problems.
4. Crown age
Dental crowns can last for years, but like any restoration, they have a lifespan. In most cases, you can expect a crown to last for 10-15 years. If your crown is between those ages or older, it’s a good idea to have it evaluated now, so it can be replaced before a problem develops.
5. Discoloration
When fitting you for a crown, Dr. Patel also selects the crown tint, matching it to your surrounding teeth for a perfectly natural-looking smile. While crowns are extremely resistant to staining, they can sometimes become discolored over time — and unlike natural teeth, they can’t be lightened with whitening treatments. Instead, replacing a discolored crown ensures your smile looks its absolute best.
Keep your smile healthy and beautiful
Dental crowns play a critical role in maintaining good oral health, and knowing when to replace a crown is essential. If you have any of the above symptoms or if you’d like to learn more about crowns and crown replacement, book an appointment online or over the phone with Park Place Smiles in Glendora, California, today.
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