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Will My Tooth Crumble If the Crown Keeps Falling Off?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

I had no trouble with my dental implant surgery. The surgeon was wonderful, and his follow-up care was thorough. I thanked my dentist for referring me to the surgeon. I received three implants, and my dentist restored them with beautiful crowns. I also received a new crown for a root canal tooth. But that crown is nothing but trouble. Within the past two months, the crown fell off four times. My dentist is happy to reattach it, but I am getting frustrated.

My dentist said that if it keeps happening, he will order a new crown. He doesn’t seem to know how to stop the problem without a new crown. I am concerned that all the work on this tooth has made it even weaker. And how do I know I won’t have the same problem with a new crown? I don’t like walking away from my dentist, but I’m not sure he knows what to do about this crown. Is my tooth going to crumble away and fall apart? Thank you. Rhys from NY

Rhys,

We are happy you had a good dental implant and implant crown experience. Unfortunately, the root canal tooth and crown are causing problems. It is frustrating when a crown repeatedly falls off, but identifying the problem is relatively easy.

Why Does a Dental Crown Keep Falling Off?

Dental crown

Dental crowns must be secured to protect a tooth

A dental crown can fall off due to bonding strength or the shape of the prepared tooth. Either or both factors can cause a crown to loosen and fall off.

  • Tooth preparation: When a dentist slightly tapers your natural tooth in preparation for a crown, it increases the surface contact between the crown and tooth. Even the weakest cement will keep the crown on. But aggressive tapering—grinding the tooth down to a stump—increases the risk of a loose crown that falls off.
  • Bonding strength: Your dentist must choose cement strong enough to keep the crown attached to your tooth.

If your dentist cannot keep the new crown on your tooth, it might be best to get a second opinion. Or you can get a second opinion right away. Depending on how aggressively your dentist prepared your tooth, an advanced cosmetic dentist can build the tooth with bonding to ensure the crown is secure.

Metairie cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune sponsors this post. Read details about how Dr. Delaune strives to provide some of the best dental care in Metairie. Ask Delaune Dental about financing to help pay for dental care.

 

If My Temporary Crown Won’t Stay On, Will the Permanent One?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

I think I should switch dentists because my temporary crown won’t stay on. It fell off my bottom right second molar the day after I got it. I went back and forth to the dentist because the crown either fell off or broke four times. My dentist took another impression of the tooth for the lab, but I’m still concerned about spending more time with this dentist. Is it too risky to switch dentists in the middle of a crown procedure? – Bethany from IL

Bethany,

It is not too risky to switch dentists in the middle of a crown procedure if your dentist can’t get your temporary crown to stay on.

Although temporary crowns are not meant to last long, they should not repeatedly fall off. When a crown repeatedly falls off, a dentist likely shaved your tooth too much, and not much tooth structure remains to support a dental crown.

Also, your dentist needed a new impression for the dental lab, which increases our concern that your dentist will have problems with your new temporary crown. Although it is not unusual for a dentist to need multiple impressions of a tooth, he or she should resolve the concerns before asking the lab to make your temporary crown.

Your dentist has an ethical obligation to transfer your dental crown case to the dentist you choose. If you have already paid your dentist for the crown, you can ask for a refund. After your new dentist examines your tooth and crown, you can give a copy of the report to your current dentist as leverage for a refund. Resolve the issue as soon as possible to prevent swallowing or aspirating your temporary crown if it falls off again.

Find an advanced cosmetic dentist for your second opinion. You can ask friends or family members for recommendations or search online. Look for a dentist with advanced cosmetic dentistry training. Review the dentist’s smile gallery on the website to see patients’ cases for dental crowns.

Metairie, Louisiana, dentist Dr. Duane Delaune sponsors this post.