“What happens if you get decay under a crown?”
I am a 37 year old female. I want to know what happens if you get decay under a crown?
4 Answers
The decay must be treated. Sometimes the crown needs to be remade and there may be a need for periodontal gum and bone surgery before remaking a final crown.
The crown generally has to be replaced
If you have a cavity under an existing crown, it is typically a new cavity. The crown will need to be replaced. Sometimes the new cavity infects the pulp, and a root canal will need to be done as well. This cannot be seen on an X-ray and the dentist will not know until he takes off your crown. If you have further questions, please contact your general dentist.
There are couple of options, depending on the extent of decay:
- They could remove the existing crown, and redo another crown, incorporating a the decay.
- They could remove the existing crown and perform something that is called a crown lengthening procedure to reduce the bone around to gain more access to the decay/natural tooth structure to make a new crown
- If the decay is too deep then may need to extracted and do a socket bone grafting procedure and place a dental implant.
*** You may need a root canal treatment with the first two options***
- They could remove the existing crown, and redo another crown, incorporating a the decay.
- They could remove the existing crown and perform something that is called a crown lengthening procedure to reduce the bone around to gain more access to the decay/natural tooth structure to make a new crown
- If the decay is too deep then may need to extracted and do a socket bone grafting procedure and place a dental implant.
*** You may need a root canal treatment with the first two options***
