Can you get a cavity around a crown?

Can you get a cavity around a crown?

Yes even though the tooth is "covered" by a crown, it can still get a cavity. The reason is that the interface between the crown and the tooth, which dentists refer to as "margins" has potential to get decay, or collect food. While crowns do minimize the tooth fracturing and help decrease the chances of getting another cavity, decay can still form around the edges of the crown right around the gum line. Hygiene becomes exceptionally important for brushing and flossing to prevent decay from developing.

What is a bridge?

What is a bridge?

A bridge replaces one or more teeth. It often follows after a hopeless tooth has been extracted(removed).

To put in a bridge, I have to prepare and reshape the teeth on both sides of the missing tooth. The bridge consists of the replacement tooth and two crowns (caps) on each side. The crowns will fit over the prepared teeth to support the replacement tooth. This typically requires two appointments and you will be placed in temporaries at the end of the first appointment until the lab fabricates your bridge.

What is a crown?

What is a crown?

A crown is a restoration that I prescribe to fix badly broken teeth or a tooth that has been root canal treated. A crown is cemented over top of the tooth after it has been prepared. Badly broken teeth can result from large cavities, root canal treatment and trauma as well. Sometimes crowns are placed on teeth that are cosmetically unacceptable by the patient. By doing a crown, I can alter the shape, contour, color and bite of the original tooth so that patients are happy with its function as well as its appearance.

Crowns also sometimes require additional procedures based on the existing condition of the tooth such as a root canal, crown lengthening surgery, and teeth buildups. Please consult me if you have any questions about crowns or bridges. Crowns can be made of gold, porcelain, or metal/porcelain which is called a porcelain fused to metal crown(PFM). The decision on the material is based on the position of the tooth, the demand for esthetics, and what type of chewing forces the crown would be subjected to.