I had six dental crowns placed quite a few years ago for a smile makeover. They’ve served me well. One of them has always had a small defect but it was not a problem. My dentist said these type of defects are common and harmless. You couldn’t really see it but my dentist was scrupulously honest (a trait I value) and told me about it. Since that time, she has retired and I am with a new dentist. I’m not quite as familiar with his character and have developed a dilemma of sorts. The dental crown that has the defect has changed somewhat. I can now see a line and feel it with my tongue. It’s a bit like a crack. I’m not opposed to replacing it, I just wanted to know if this would be an emergency appointment or if it can wait.
Regina
Dear Regina,
It is a wonderful thing when you have a caregiver you truly trust. Hopefully, your new dentist will have the same integrity. I would not call the crack in your crown a dental emergency, but you will want to replace it at your earliest convenience. You mentioned that you had six porcelain crowns made at the same time. I am not certain how old they are. However, if they are getting up in years you have a couple of options.
First, you can just replace them as they are needing to be replaced one at a time. That could result in quite a few trips to the dentist. Another option is to replace them all at once. This is initially more expensive but you will save time.
I don’t actually recommend this if they are still in good shape. If they are, they could serve you well for many years. Have your new dentist assess them. Once their condition is determined you can decide what is the best option for you.
I will mention if you had any plans to whiten your teeth in the near future, make certain you do that before you have your crowns replaced. You can match dental crowns to the color of your natural teeth, but the crowns will not whiten after they are completed.
This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.