Many patients ask their dentist if they need to replace their old crowns and bridges when they visit them. Some of the crowns are even ten years old. The truth is that each patient has a unique subjective reply to this question. The crown can be replaced by an experienced gentle dentist in Carmel, NY, as New York has many popular, experienced dentists who provide you treatment with no pain or discomfort at all. The only ways to determine if you need to replace your crown or bridge are through clinical evaluation and assessment.
Is It Necessary To Replace Old Crowns And Bridges Periodically?
In simple terms, crowns are restorations used to strengthen and protect teeth that were previously damaged by decay or fracture. Tooth decay can become so bad that regular fillings cannot help to fix the issue. Such situations are dealt with using the root canal therapy technique. However, the tooth becomes fragile after a root canal, and crowns, or caps, as it were, are put on for preservation to prevent such teeth from cracking.
Bridges, on the other hand, are artificial structures designed to replace lost teeth. Crowns can be constructed from plastic, steel, gold, or any other substance. Custom-fit crowns are also required for dental operations like implants and cosmetic surgery.
Why should bridges and crowns be replaced?
The gum line slowly disappears over time, exposing the root surface and finally allowing a cavity to appear. In this case, the only thing we can do to get rid of the decay is to remove the crown. In serious cases, the crown must be replaced in order to carry out a root canal. Due to gum recession, PFM crowns may sometimes develop a black shadow behind the gum line that becomes darker with time and looks really unattractive. In such cases, a more complex all-ceramic crown must be put in place of the crown. If you use a dental crown for a long duration of time, it may chip or break, requiring a replacement. A crown’s lifespan usually ranges around ten to fifteen years.
Think of it the same way as car maintenance. A well-maintained and properly taken care of car will operate for decades, while an average car may only last ten years. In the same way, everything depends on the crown’s initial fit and seal, which in turn depends on the technique and degree of skill used in its production, as well as the dentist’s ability to fix it.
Contact a Dentist
If you have cavities or tooth decay along with old crowns or bridges for a longer period of time, it is time to visit your dentist immediately.
