Dr. John D. Barnes
256-539-7000
drjdbarnes@aol.com
Quick Reference
How Do I Know if My Crown Is Failing?
While it's true that a crown protects and strengthens a tooth, sometimes a crowned tooth will get a cavity below the crown. Cavities never come through the crown, but they can get started at the edge where the crown and tooth meet.
Unfortunately, this is one of the toughest spots to keep free of plaque, and that is what caused this cavity. In the early stages, cavities are easy to catch and fix with a filling, unless they're between the teeth where they can't be reached.
However, once established, cavities grow quickly because they have already gotten past the first line of defense. At this point, the crown must be replaced.
By replacing the crown now, before the cavity has reached the pulp chamber of the tooth, you can avoid a root canal.