How to Avoid Dental Crown Problems | Affordable Dental Care‎ |

A dental crown is a sort of "cap" that can be placed over a tooth for a variety of reasons. It can help to restore the shape or strength of a tooth, support a bridge, protect a tooth with a large filling, or cover discoloration. However, there are several problems that can occur with a dental crown, most of which are avoidable.

 Check the color. Before getting the permanent crown inserted, your dentist will carefully match the color of the crown to the color of your teeth to ensure it looks natural. He or she should consult you, giving you a chance to approve or disapprove of the selection.[1] Using a mirror, look in your mouth at the surrounding teeth to see if they are the same hue as the crown. Don’t be afraid to reject your dentist’s initial selection. It’s your mouth, after all, and you should be happy with your crown.
You should also check the color in natural sunlight. Sometimes the lighting in a dentist's office can be bright and confusing. Check the color outside, too, to see what it will look like in everyday lighting.

 Before getting the permanent crown inserted, your dentist will carefully match the color of the crown to the color of your teeth to ensure it looks natural. He or she should consult you, giving you a chance to approve or disapprove of the selection.[1] Using a mirror, look in your mouth at the surrounding teeth to see if they are the same hue as the crown. Don’t be afraid to reject your dentist’s initial selection. It’s your mouth, after all, and you should be happy with your crown.

You should also check the color in natural sunlight. Sometimes the lighting in a dentist's office can be bright and confusing. Check the color outside, too, to see what it will look like in everyday lighting.

Be careful when eating very hot or very cold foods. With a metal crown, especially, you will experience a slight to moderate pain or sensitivity in the crowned tooth. This is due to the greater thermal conductivity of the metal crown. Sensitivity will typically be felt at the gum-line. Cold sensitivity should only last for about 6 weeks. Sensitivity to heat should last only about a week. If sensitivity to either persists beyond the expected time, you may require a follow-up visit with your dentist.

Do not use full porcelain crowns. Porcelain is very brittle, and full porcelain crowns are more likely to fail than metal crowns. Choose a more robust crown of metal or zirconia, which often include a ceramic layer on top to look like natural teeth. Other options include gold and other metals that can stand up to higher grinding pressures and have greater durability.

Many problems with porcelain crowns cannot be avoided. The porcelain may have been fired incorrectly in the lab, or might not have been made thick enough. Besides crown breakage or failure, porcelain crowns can rapidly wear down opposing teeth if the porcelain surface becomes rough