Is your crown feeling loose when you bite down or chew? Do not ignore it. A loose dental crown is more than an inconvenience—it’s a dental emergency that it must be dealt with to prevent serious complications.
Your crown works as a shield for your worn /damaged tooth. Therefore, as soon as a dental crown is loose, you need to address the issue with your dentist ASAP. Failure to do so can result in tooth infection, fractures, and eventual tooth loss if not fixed.
If your crown gets loose, bacteria can get underneath it and start attacking the tooth below. Once that happens, things can go downhill fast.
You might end up with fractures, infections, or even dead tissue in the tooth’s nerve. At that point, you’re looking at either a root canal or having the whole tooth pulled and replaced with an implant – which is both painful and expensive.
Potential Consequences for Oral Health
Leaving a loose crown unattended can result in tooth loss, which can translate into multiple issues that include bone loss, aging, teeth crowding, biting issues, and more. Besides, the underlying tooth beneath a crown can get infected, fractured, or abscessed.
Impact on Surrounding Teeth and Gums
The neighboring teeth also suffer the consequences of a loose crown. Having an unstable crown may induce food accumulation between healthy teeth, inducing plaque and bacteria accumulation. This problem can worsen if your oral hygiene is not optimal or your diet includes sticky foods and high sugar intake.
Once the dental cement that holds the crown in place gets affected, and the new crown starts to move, bacteria begin to accumulate below the gum line. This creates gum disease over time and starts an irreversible domino effect that will lead to treatment failure.
Causes of a Loose Dental Crown
- Poorly Fitted Crown: Your dental crown needs a snug and precise fit, balanced with the correct occlusion to chew and function appropriately. If the preparation and design of the crown are faulty, your dental crown may experience excessive forces that lead to failure. Even if everything seems fine at the start.
- Tooth Decay or Damage: Without the correct fit, bacteria can find their way beneath the crown, creating the perfect environment for tooth decay and structural damage. In this case, your brush cannot remove the trapped plaque that damages the structure until it loosens.
- Furthermore, once this process starts, it is irreversible, even with the best dental care possible. This is why patients usually attend their dental appointments when it’s already too late.
- Teeth Grinding and Occlusal Issues: Grinding your teeth can represent a significant hazard for your dental crowns. On the contrary, a properly balanced occlusion will let you distribute the immense bite forces of your mouth to prevent damage to your crown and the tooth beneath. In these cases, it is advisable to start wearing a mouthguard as soon as you finish the prosthetic treatment to protect your teeth at night.
Normal Wear and Tear Over Time
Putting the failures and complications behind, your dental crown can also start to come loose due to normal wear and use. Remember that no dental cosmetic treatment is permanent, and a dental crown is supposed to last from 5 to 10 years in perfect shape.
Dental crowns, veneers, and even composites will eventually require a replacement after serving their lifetime. However, you can also extend your treatment’s longevity by keeping good oral hygiene, flossing, brushing, and taking the proper care measures at home.
Signs of a Loose Crown
You should schedule an appointment as soon as possible if you notice any of the following signs or symptoms:
- If you experience discomfort after the final restoration when eating or chewing.
- If you notice or hear sounds or cracks when you eat. This could indicate the fracture of the tooth beneath the crown or the dislodgment of the dental cement.
- If you feel the crown move when chewing.
- If you notice a bad odor or metallic taste in your mouth.
Any of these signs could indicate that the crown is damaged and requires immediate dental care to prevent further damage.
Seeking Professional Solutions for a Loose Dental Crown
Once your crown becomes loose, you’ll require immediate dental care to avoid severe consequences for your natural tooth and cosmetic dentistry treatment. In the best scenario, your dentist may simply remove the crown temporarily, eliminate the damaged cement, and place the crown back in place with new cement.
However, if time goes by without addressing the issues, the tooth underneath might be affected beyond repair, requiring a completely different treatment, instead of just having a replacement crown or cement.
Benefits of Professional Repair or Replacement
Dentists are equipped and prepared to address these complications during an emergency appointment.
Most repair jobs and replacements will require a considerable time due to the dental laboratory role in prosthodontics, but we usually address this with an excellent temporary crown that protects your teeth while the final crown arrives.
Choosing the Right Dental Service Provider
Having an experienced dental care provider can make the entire difference between a small repair, a complete replacement, or a successful dental crown and dental bridges.
Keep in mind that there are multiple procedures, signs, and factors explaining why a crown can become loose; and understanding and knowing how to deal with them is a complex task only possible by an exceptional emergency dentist.
As usual, the best solution is to cut the problem from the root. With the appropriate planning and execution, dental crowns are splendid treatment alternatives with predictable results and almost no complications.
Professional Solutions for a Loose Dental Crown
Evaluation and Diagnosis by a Dentist
Your dentist will evaluate and assess the issues with a comprehensive oral evaluation that may include X-ray and another test to determine the current state of your teeth and crown.
Repairing a Loose Dental Crown
The repair will depend on the severity of the affection, the cause of the issue, and its extension. Some cases may require minor repairments or adjustments, while others might take more time and effort to correct the problem.
Replacement Options for a Loose Dental Crown
If the repair isn’t possible, your dentist will opt to replace the old crown for a new one, usually preparing the tooth structure, taking new measures, and obtaining a brand-new crown from the laboratory.
FAQs
Q. Can I always repair a loose crown?
Not always. The exact treatment will depend on multiple factors, but it typically requires a replacement or significant repair to keep a loose crown.
Q. What should I do if the crown completely falls off?
In this case, safely store the crown in a paper towel or bag and protect your natural teeth with over-the-counter orthodontic wax. Schedule an appointment with your dentist ASAP and deliver the dislodged crown.
Conclusion
While it is a rare complication, a loose crown can represent a significant risk for your tooth. Receiving timely treatment with a prepared and trained professional can make the difference between losing a piece or just making some minor adjustments.
