You’ve had a couple of severely chipped teeth for a while now, so you recently decided to get them corrected with dental crowns in Spring Hill. At first, everything seemed great, but a few days ago, you noticed a small gap between your crown and your gums. As the days go by, this gap is only getting larger. What should you do about it? Read this post to find out.
Why Do These Gaps Happen?
Sometimes, a crown may come slightly loose because it was not properly cemented onto your tooth. However, it may also have loosened because you ate something that damaged it. Consuming sticky foods like caramel and gummy candies can cause your crown to become partially or even fully dislodged.
What Should You Do About It?
If you notice a gap between your crown and your gums, the first thing you should do is call your dentist in Spring Hill and let them know of your situation. They should be able to get you in for an appointment as soon as possible, as a loose crown is sometimes considered a dental emergency.
Your dentist may be able to reattach the crown using extra-strength dental cement. If that turns out not to work, there may be something wrong with the crown itself. In that case, your dentist might decide to create an entirely new crown for you.
Why Should You Get These Gaps Treated?
Although these gaps might seem like only a cosmetic problem, putting off treatment for them can result in severe oral health problems. When you have a gap between crown and gums, bacteria have ample room to accumulate in this gap and attack your natural tooth underneath the crown. This can result in a serious cavity or infection that can be quite painful and require serious treatment, like root canal therapy.
How Can You Take Care of Your Crown?
To make sure this doesn’t happen, and your crown lasts as long as possible, take the following tips into account:
- Brush and floss around your crown daily.
- Avoid chewing particularly hard or sticky foods with your crowned tooth.
- Wear a mouthguard when engaging in sports or other physical activity.
- Attend regular dental checkups and cleanings. That way, your dentist can diagnose a faulty crown before it becomes a serious problem.
If you notice a gap between your crown and your gums, it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. Just make sure to contact your dentist about it as soon as you can.
About the Author
Dr. Keith Chapman earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. After that, he trained at the Zimmer Institute under an oral surgeon, where he learned valuable skills in placing dental implants and restoring them with dental crowns. He also has plenty of experience in dealing with crowns on natural teeth. If you have a space under your crown, feel free to contact Dr. Chapman’s practice.