Many people think that if they get a crown on one or more of their teeth, they are resistant to cavities. they think that Can Dental Crowns Get Cavities? That is absolutely not true. The porcelain that the crown is made from will not decay, but your tooth structure at the gumline is still susceptible to decay, especially if you don’t maintain good home care.
When patients get a cavity (decay) at the gumline on a tooth they have a crown on, they often expect the dentist to “fill” the cavity and leave the crown alone. Since crowns are more expensive than fillings, the idea is to “fix” the cavity and fill it, but leave the crown intact. We, dentists, would like to be able to repair crown margins that have developed decay for our patients. But this is not a good idea. The challenge lies in the progression of decay and our inability to remove all of the decay that goes under the crown and inside the tooth where we can’t see or reach it. In fact, by removing the decay you see visually but not removing the existing crown in order to gain full access to what’s going on inside, you are taking a large risk of having remaining decay get larger and larger, leading to the possibility of a root canal, infection, pain, tooth loss, and bone loss. You are much better off removing the entire crown, in order to gain proper access to remove any decay that has crept inside, and fabricate a new dental crown. It may seem expensive at the time until you consider the much greater costs later on that would result if left untreated or “patched up”.
Holistic dentistry takes long-term success of any treatment into account and makes it a priority so that our patients don’t have to suffer with pain, tooth loss, or much more expensive treatments when the right treatment now can save them a lot of aggravation later on. The natural approach of Holistic Dentistry is in line when it comes to restoring broken down or decayed teeth or dental restorations. The use of bio-compatible materials, such as porcelain, along with digital technology that helps deliver more precision and accurate fit of your crown, is the best way to achieve long-term success and overall health when it comes to your mouth, and your entire body. Good home care to maintain your mouth and your existing dental work as well as regular cleanings to remove that hard tartar that hides below the gums is the essential to prevention and reduction of tooth decay and preservation of your existing crowns, fillings, veneers or bridges.
If you are concerned or have questions about your crowns, or other holistic dentistry topics, do not hesitate to call our office.
About Dr. Agatha Bis
Oakville Dentist, Dr. Agatha Bis, DDS received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from University of Western Ontario in 1996. With over 25 years of clinical experience creating beautiful and healthy smiles, Dr. Bis offers a unique approach to dentistry, blending modern dental practices with the
use of digital technology to optimize health outcomes. With thousands of hours in post-graduate training, her unique focus and expertise in treating TMD and providing options in restorative dentistry, along with digital technology has led to helping numerous patients resolve chronic and debilitating dental challenges.