How Dental Crowns Can Become Cracked, Chipped, or Dislodged
When dental crowns are created according to the precise specifications of a patient’s mouth from materials of only the highest quality, they can last for many years. These time-tested restorations provide numerous benefits, returning strength and structural integrity to damaged or weakened teeth while making smiles aesthetically whole once again. They can even be used to replace missing teeth, whether they are attached to dental implants or used to secure dental bridges. Among their chief benefits, they give patients the ability to enjoy optimal oral health and to smile, speak, and eat with confidence.
Nevertheless, even well-made dental crowns are not immune to damage, and those that are poorly constructed or placed are extremely vulnerable to chipping, cracking, or becoming dislodged. Fortunately, at the practice of experienced, talented general and cosmetic dentist Jean E. Barthman in Redwood City, damaged dental crowns can be replaced with strong, stable, remarkably natural-looking custom-crafted dental crowns. With good oral hygiene and regular dental visits, these dental crowns can last for a decade or longer.
Why Do Dental Crowns Become Damaged?
No restorative dentistry treatment, regardless of its quality, should be considered permanent. Even implant-supported restorations will eventually need to be replaced. There are instances in which crowns have lasted for decades or even lifetimes, but these cases should be considered exceptional, not typical. The finest dental crowns will likely last for many years, but this depends as much on how meticulous patients are in caring for them as anything else.
While dental crowns are generally able to withstand the rigors of chewing and biting, they can become chipped or otherwise damaged when patients eat hard, crunchy, or sticky foods, bite their fingernails, or chew on ice or pen caps. This risk isn’t specific to dental crowns; natural teeth can also be damaged by these activities. When it comes to protecting crowns, a little common sense can go a long way.
Dental crowns can also be damaged due to bruxism, or the chronic grinding of teeth. Again, this is not unique to crowns, but also applicable to the natural teeth. The friction caused by grinding can cause the crown to become worn down or loosened. Patients who do grind their teeth may benefit from the creation of a custom night guard, which can help to protect the crown - not to mention, the healthy natural teeth - from grinding that occurs unconsciously while patients are asleep.
Of course, there are cases in which dental crowns become damaged simply because they are poorly made or the dentists responsible for them failed to plan and place them properly. Great care must be taken to ensure that crowns fit perfectly into a patient’s bite; otherwise, they can be weakened and more easily broken.
Fortunately, patients of Dr. Barthman - whether they are being fitted with crowns for the first time or are having their damaged or outdated crowns replaced - can expect results of only the highest standard.
Contact Dr. Jean Barthman Today
If you would like to learn more about the replacement of damaged crowns, please contact the practice of cosmetic dentist Jean Barthman today.