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Is There a Definitive Way to Determine if Crown Fits Properly?

asked 2 years ago by RS100 in Michigan
Latest answer by Scott Greenhalgh, DDS
Question viewed 3,449 times
Tags: teeth, cosmetic dentistry

I recently had all porcelain dental crowns installed on my four front teeth. When I floss two of them at the gumline, I can taste and smell a foul bacterial scent on the floss.

The dentist poked around with a dental instrument and says they fit properly, but I disagree. None of my other teeth (crowned or real) produce the odor, so something isn't right. He told me x-rays won't necessarily show whether or not they fit, so is there a definitive way (i.e., special type of x-ray, MRI, etc.) to determine if the fit is correct?

8 answers to Is There a Definitive Way to Determine if Crown Fits Properly?

+1

How Can I Tell if my Crown Fits Properly?

Well done porcelain dental crowns ought to settle in and last for years with no more than minor issues. We always check the fit of any new crown we fit with an X-ray. Your dentist is correct that not all issues with the fit show on X-rays, but it is still the single most useful test to verify the fit. There are no other types of X-rays or MRI's that are helpful or pragmatic. Often all porcelain crowns are actually bonded. This adhesion process is very technique-sensitive. If the edge... more
Scott Greenhalgh, DDS

Denver Cosmetic Dentist

www.scottgreenhalghdds.com

+1

Crowns....Good Fit or Bad Fit

Whether the crowns are a good fit or not BEGINS AT THE BEGINNING. When the dentist FIRST begins tooth shaping the margins must be placed so the biology of the gum tissue (gingival sulcus) is not compromised. Go too deep and the gum tissue will always be inflamed after the crowns are placed. A crown can be a good fit but be too deep in the gum and it will always be red and puffy. If the preparation (shaping) of the tooth doesn't result in clearly defined margins which are... more
Ted Murray, DDS

Dubuque Cosmetic Dentist
+1

You can determine the fit of a crown.

Yes, you can determine if a crown fits well.  First, by feeling the margin (where the crown fits the tooth) of a crown with an instrument.  Secondly, by an x-ray.  These two things will give the diagnostic information needed to determine if a crown fits well.
Kimberly Johnson Genc, DDS

Newport Beach Cosmetic Dentist
+1

What is the cause of odor around my new crowns?

 An x ray will show if there is a gap between the crown and the gum. If there is an odor around these two new crowns at the gumline, there are some plausible explanations besides the fit of the crown. The odor you find when you floss in this area could be caused by decaying food or the presence of bacteria under the gum.  I would have my teeth cleaned.  Have the dentist check for periodontal pockets around the teeth. Flush the gum area with a waterpik with... more
Robert Fields, DDS

Los Angeles Cosmetic Dentist
+1

Smelly Crowns

I always feel that the patient is a great source of information. If you know there is a bad odor from only two of the crowns I would go back and ask the dentist to check again. All porcelain crowns are VERY technique sensitive, even the smallest misalignment will cause more problems than traditional metal based crowns. Call ahead and say that you will need an x-ray on the tooth. That way there is a chair set aside for you and the dentist is not rushed. Early morning appointments are... more
Annalee S. Kruyer DDS

Las Vegas Cosmetic Dentist
+1

Xrays and dental explorer

Taking an xray of the crowns should help, as well as a dental explorer (the metal pick that dentists use all the time). If the xray looks great and the explorer feels smooth, then the problem is likely something else. Try dipping toothbrush bristles in hydrogen peroxide and scrubbing the area 2 times per day for a week and see if things change. A $4000 MRI is not really a good choice here, and the details given aren't precise enough to determine fit.
Lance Timmerman, DMD

Seattle Cosmetic Dentist
+1

Checking the fit of a crown

Checking with an explorer all around the crown is the best way to catch an opening between the margin of the crown and your own tooth. But you can always use x-ray as a help to determine if there is any gap.Tthe odor might be coming from uncleaned cement left after the veneers or crowns were cemented. Ask your doctor to use loops and interproximal saw and polisher and remove all the extra cement.left interproximally I am sure that's what is causing the odor.
Kate Sahafi, DDS

Orange County Cosmetic Dentist
+1

There are several ways to determine if crown fits properly

First, the crown has to fit perfectly over the tooth so that its margins meet the margins of the tooth preparation. Once the crown is "down" on the tooth, the contacts between the adjacent teeth should be adequate: floss should snap on either sides without breaking and without just sliding through. A quick snap is indicative of good contacts. Lastly, the bite (occlusion) should be checked. The crown should not modify the feel of the existing bite. If there are any interferences... more
Anca Bazile, DDS

New York Cosmetic Dentist

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