Do Crowns Protect Your Teeth from Further Decay?
Dental crowns are a popular option for patients who need a reliable way to fill in gaps in an otherwise perfect smile. These crowns also offer patients improved functionality, ensuring that there’s no disruption in the ability to bite or chew. In addition, crowns are invaluable for covering implants, masking discolored or misshapen teeth, and protecting teeth that have been restored by root canal procedures. As wonderful as they are, however, crowns can sometimes give patients a false sense of security. For example, patients sometimes assume that the placement of a crown means that the protected tooth is no longer subject to tooth decay. As it turns out, though, nothing could be further from the truth.
Crowns Are No Defense Against Decay
As anyone who’s had a crown understands, these dental enhancements can come in a variety of materials that include porcelain, ceramic, metal alloys, and composite resin. Before placement, they’re often colored to match the natural hue of the patient’s teeth – enabling them to be all but indistinguishable from those natural pearly whites. The goal is always to provide the patient with an enhancement that complements his natural teeth, leaving him with an improved smile and greater dental function.
However, crowns are not invulnerable, and can themselves be damaged by a lack of proper care. Moreover, they provide little defense against further decay in the mouth – something that can create confusion for patients who always seem to be surprised to learn that their restored tooth has somehow developed new decay.
Bacteria Is Not Deterred
The fact of the matter is this: bacteria doesn’t care that you have a fancy new crown. For that matter, it doesn’t allow itself to be deterred by any dental procedure. Bacterial decay can occur despite your new fillings, crowns, bridgework, or any other dental treatment. Dental decay will continue to happen any time you allow harmful bacteria to run wild in your mouth and attack your teeth – which is why proper dental hygiene is so critical at every stage of life.
That’s where the good news comes into play. Decay sets in when bacteria is permitted to take root, and plaque buildup can lead to cavities that could necessitate a crown replacement. To replace that, you need to continue to adhere to a strict regimen of oral health care:
- Brush twice a day, every day
- Floss according to your dentist’s instructions
- Be sure to visit your dentist for maintenance and cleaning, every six months or as directed by your dentist. Those visits will also provide your dentist with an opportunity to properly inspect your crowns, to ensure that there is no additional decay forming around them.
At Ebenezer Dental, we believe that it’s important for patients to have the facts they need about dental crowns, bacterial decay, and other aspects of oral health. That’s why we’re always here to answer important dental care questions, and provide the recommendations and guidance you need to maintain healthy teeth for life. Give us a call today to schedule your next appointment with the best dentist in midtown Manhattan.