Dental crowns are designed to protect and restore your damaged teeth as well as improve their appearance. They are permanently bonded to your teeth and can last up to fifteen years. But crowns can sustain cracks, chips, and breaks when not properly cared for. If your dental crowns have obvious damage or are causing pain, they may need to be replaced, so you must see a Plymouth dentist. Your crowns may be failing if you notice any of the following signs:

Tooth or Gum Pain

If the gum tissue around your dental crown is swelling or experiencing pain, you must see your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist can assess your crowns’ integrity to make sure they have no cracks that allow bacteria to cause damage underneath your teeth. 

You may notice tooth or gum pain whenever you eat or bite because of extra pressure on your teeth. Also, you may experience discomfort every time you brush and floss your teeth. 

If your dental crowns are failing, you may also notice teeth sensitivity when you consume anything hot or cold. These symptoms occur because of crown cracks or decay in the underlying teeth. Your dentist can carry out a root canal procedure to get rid of a tooth’s decayed parts or repair your dental crown. By addressing the issue early, crown repair may still be possible, which means you won’t require a replacement.

Crown Fracture

Dental crown fractures make it essential to replace your crowns.  A fractured crown shows visible damage like cracks or chips. Your crown can fracture because of teeth grinding, facial trauma, general wear and tear, excessive force when you bite down, and chewing hard food. Your dentist can repair simple cracks and chips; however, a serious fracture cannot be fixed, thus, requiring a replacement. 

Loose Dental Crown

Often, a loose dental crown means the bonding material your dentist used for attaching the dental crown to your tooth may no longer be doing its job. A seriously loose dental crown may fall out over time. Also, it can create space between the interior surface of the crown and your real tooth, letting food debris and bacteria accumulate and causing tooth decay. Make sure to see your dentist when your crowns have become loose. Depending on the assessment of your dentist, they may recement the crown in place if it hasn’t been damaged. 

Change in Look

Dental crowns are used for improving the look of your smile. Over time, you may notice changes in color between your dental crown and the teeth that surround it. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns can cause the formation of dark edges along your gum line once the material wears away.