Dental Crown Q&A
91%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
Dental Crownbefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Dental Crown Cost: $2,782

Learn about Dental Crown

129 people and 134 doctors are talking about Dental Crown

Get Free Email Updates

How Can Decay Be Prevented Under a Crown?

asked 9 months ago by anon
Latest answer by Scott Young, DDS
Question viewed 1,415 times
Tags: decay, options, prevention, repair, root canal, roots, technique, treatment

What are dentists' most common treatment options for removing tooth decay under dental crowns? What procedures are the most involved? What do they require?

10 answers to How Can Decay Be Prevented Under a Crown?

+1

How to Treat Decay Under Dental Crowns

Once you have decay that starts under a dental crown the best long term solution is usually to replace the crown. If the decay present is VERY small and at the margin a composite material can be used to fill the area after the decay is removed. Keep in mind that many times this is a short term approach. I would say to replace the crown with a new all porcelain crown that can be bonded to your tooth. These crowns are less likely to get recurrent decay. more
+1

Assess and treat on a case by case basis.

When we look at crowns with recurrent decay, we must take a number of factors into consideration. * Is the decay extensive (deep) or shallow? * Is the area of decay easily accessible to dental instruments? * Can the dentist be sure to remove all the decay without removing the crown? The simplest solution is to place a small filling at the crown margin where the tooth and the crown meet to eliminate the decay and seal the crown, in order to prevent the... more
+1

Preventing decay under a crown

A crown that's cemented over a tooth should have good marginal seal to prevent bacteria from leaking in. Once bacteria are able to leak in, they will metabolize the sucrose from your diet and release an acid that will break down your tooth and cause decay. Therefore, the two factors to prevent decay underneath a crown are (1) closed margins around the crown, and (2) excellent oral hygiene. In many cases, the crown had good marginal seal, but due to poor oral... more
+1

Decay under an existing crown.

Once the decay process commences under a crown there are really only two options: 1) remove crown clean and disinfect the tooth and prepare tooth for new crown 2) if decay is in very accessible area, clean decay and restore tooth with a bonded filling. This option is very seldomly used as decay usually forms under margins between teeth which are not very accessible. The best ways to prevent decay under crowns: 1) have well fitting crowns with tightly sealed margins preformed by a well... more
+1

Decay Prevention under a crown

Believe it or not, decay can easily be prevented. Make sure you are seeing your hygienist on a regular basis first of all. Next, you need to make sure that when you are brushing (twice a day atleast), you need to brush at the edge of your gum tissue where it meets the tooth in order to clean the margin of the crown. This is the area where cavities begin with crowns. Also, use a fluoride tooth paste. If you are "prone" to getting cavities, use a... more
+1

How to prevent getting decay under a crown.

The best way to prevent decay under a crown is proper oral hygiene. Most people are great brushers, but not great flossers. Many times people get decay under a crown due to food not being removed from around the crown, giving the bacteria a perfect breeding ground. If you have an area that is trapping food, it is best to see your dentist to get that area evaluated. I would go over oral hygiene instruction with your hygienist or dentist to protect your investment of your crown, and the... more
+1

How Can Decay Be Prevented Under a Crown?

First of all, I want to thank you for asking great questions. One needs to understand that normally there is a lot of bacteria, which can cause decay, in the mouth at any present time. By following very simple, and extremely important directions of: proper home care AND seeing a hygienist on regularly scheduled cleaning appointments, amount of bacteria can be minimized and decay can be prevented. In case decay has already started, unfortunately, the... more
+1

Decay under Dental Crowns

Unfortunately, there isn't really any other good way to get rid of decay under a crown than to remove the crown, clean out the decay, refill, and place a new crown.
+1

Decay can be treated by removing your crown

Most common treatment option to treat decay under the crown is to remove the old crown, celan up the cavity and fill it up. You then require a new crown, to cover and protect the entire tooth and the newly placed filling.
+1

Treating decay under a crown

If the decay is only confied to small areas on the cheek side fo the tooth, the area an be cleaned out and filled with a composite resin, bonding material. If any of the decay has reached around the crown and is in between the teeth or below the gum line, you must remove the crown and make a new one after all the decay is removed. Prevention of decay under a crown: cleanings at the dental office every three months, floss every day and brush, fluoride rinses and good fitting crowns. more

Ask a question