Chipped back porcelain crown: it has been chipping off little bits over the last 8 months. (Photo)

Question

It has a root canal. I was told that it could not be repaired. My teeth are rather short. Is there any danger of leaving it this way for a while? What would you suggest be done? I clench/grind at night and wear a mouth guard on my upper teeth to sleep. If I did replace which type of crown would you suggest?

Ramin Mahallati, DDS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. The best way to answer this is with an in-person evaluation, but no, I don't recommend leaving it like this for a long period of time.  I recommend following up with your Dentist about your concerns or consulting a Prosthodontist. A Prosthodontist is a dental specialist who has advanced training in restoring and replacing teeth and can create a customized treatment using the latest techniques in dental crowns.

Kourosh Maddahi, DDS · Answer

Hi:There is no danger to the tooth by not doing anything, however your bite on the upper tooth may change overtime. For this reason its best to replace the crown with either a gold crown or a zirconium crown.Best,Dr. Maddahi

Rick Iskandar, BDSc (Hons) · Answer

Hi there,
Crowns are placed  over root canal treated teeth to act as 'helmets', providing rigidity and structural integrity to teeth that have been effectively taxidermied to relieve infection and alleviate the need for extraction.
It would appear that you have a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown in which case the majority of the rigidity and structural integrity will be maintained as long as the metal remains intact. You are, however at an increased risk of decay from plaque accumulation around the rough, fractured porcelain and margins/edges of the crown.
Until such a time as advised by your dentist or otherwise necessitated for other reasons (further fracture or pain for example) it is imperative that you maintain excellent oral hygiene in this area with the use of a good quality toothbrush and daily use of appropriate interdental aids such as floss or interdental brushes to avoid further breakdown and an even shorter lifespan of this already heavily compromised tooth.
With regards to your grinding, if appropriate, seek treatment such as stress minimisation or muscle relaxant injections as nocturnal bruxism (clenching/grinding at night) can cause the teeth to degenerate quickly.
Hope that helps

Chipped back porcelain crown: it has been chipping off little bits over the last 8 months. (Photo)

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Chipped back porcelain crown: it has been chipping off little bits over the last 8 months. (Photo)

Answers (3)

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Everything you need to know about Dental Crown

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.