Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Get a Dental Crown in Sedona
What happens if I don’t get a crown?
Dentists are always asked “How long can I delay getting a crown?”
Getting a crown is the most common restorative dental procedures. Of course, nobody wants to get a crown, but sometimes it is the best course of action to help restore your tooth to perfect working order.
You may ask “How long can I delay getting a crown?” The consequences of not getting a dental crown or “a tooth capped” hinge on why you need a crown.
If you are getting a crown for cosmetic purposes to make your tooth or teeth look better, then choosing not to get the crown means your teeth will still look the same.
If you have a large filling with new cavities, not getting a dental crown may lead to a dental emergency with pain and swelling; of course, dental emergencies usually only happen on weekends or when you decide to go on vacation.
Maybe your tooth “doesn’t hurt”, so why not wait to get a crown?
How does the Dentist Decide if I need a Crown? How long can I delay getting a crown?
If your tooth has a crown on it now, and the crown has failed because the crown is “leaking” and got recurrent decay underneath, you will need a crown. Just because a tooth receives a crown does not mean it is less prone to decay.
If you have had a root canal on a molar done by your dentist or an endodontist (dentist that specializes in and only does root canals), you should not delay getting a crown. The risk of waiting to get a crown is fracturing the tooth.
Fracture is one example of why dental crowns need to be redone. Maybe you grind your teeth at night because of anxiety and have fractured the porcelain off a crown. A back tooth with lots of grinding pressure is more likely to fracture than a tooth without much pressure. Keep in mind if you are currently grinding your teeth, you can damage your crowns and teeth. You may want to consider a night guard.
If you have visible tooth cracks on a tooth, your tooth may be weakened and at risk to break. You may not know it, but your tooth may have a fracture in more than one place.
How long can I wait to replace a crown?
If your existing crown has new decay, often the crown starts “leaking” and allowing saliva and bacteria to seep underneath the cement sealing the crown. This is often “painless”, but the tooth structure underneath turns into the consistency of “wet cardboard”. We all know that wet cardboard will never be the same.
This patient had a porcelain-metal crown on the lower molar that was leaking – the crown needed to be replaced.
Crowns that have been on for long periods of time can become loose due to decay growing underneath the crown
Do I really need a crown?
What happens if I don’t get a crown?
You sure do if you have an advanced cavity and a large existing filling. Cavities are like cancer, leaving a “little bit of decay” is like “leaving a little bit of cancer. Both may “not hurt” until it’s too late. Of course, a filling may work as a temporary, to allow you some time to save up money to do the crown. Ask your dentist why she or he thinks why you really need a crown.
Instead of kicking yourself later for not taking care of your dental issues, make an appointment! There are some things you can put off and other things you shouldn’t. Read 7 Things You Should Ask Before Getting a Crown.
Dental crowns are a wonderful way to restore teeth that have been damaged by decay or other problems. How long can you delay getting a crown? If a crown is done early enough, you can save money and from needing more dental work later on!
