September 2021 - Kentucky Dental Group

I had three dental crowns placed and they have been irritating me ever since. They are pressing on my gums and feel bulky. I recently read that porcelain fused to metal crowns can cause problems. These are the type she placed for me. Plus, I really want to go metal-free. However, when I asked her to remove and replace them with zirconia crowns she said she needed to wait until my nerves have calmed down. Is this really necessary?

Candace

Dear Candance,

Your dentist is really struggling with her field. There is no reason to wait until your nerves calm down to resolve this. The pressing of the crowns on your gums is what is irritating the nerves. Waiting only prolongs that. Removing the crowns, relieves that. I don’t think the fact that your crown is a porcelain fused to metal crown is the actual problem here. When a crown is fitted properly, you do not notice it is there at all. It’s just like another tooth. What the metal base will do is cause the crown to be more opaque, which lessens its natural look. Additionally, at some point down the line, you will develop an ugly gray line at your gumline. So, switching them out is a good idea.

If this is a front tooth, all-porcelain or zirconia crowns will work. If it is a back tooth, you will really need the zirconia for it to be strong enough to withstand your biting forces. It may be the zirconia that frightens her. This is a newer type of material to work with than she may be used to. My suggestion is go to another dentist to get this done. If you are wanting to go metal-free, I’d look for a holistic dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

I’ve had four porcelain crowns for 15 years. One of them has always had a minor defect, but I could only feel a small divot with my tongue. The crown itself was fine. However, recently, it has changed. I can now see a line on it and it feels different as well. Is this in danger of breaking? Should I treat it as a dental emergency? Is there a way to repair it or do I need to replace it?

Catherine

Dear Catherine,

It sounds like this crown is about to be a problem. I would not consider it a dental emergency, but you will need to replace it sometime soon. One thing to be wary of is a dentist who tells you that you have to replace all of them in order to get them to match. That is not accurate. What it really means is he or she does not have the skill requisite to match a single crown. That is, admittedly, difficult. It is not impossible, though. It just takes some work.

If you actually prefer to replace all the porcelain crowns at once, that is completely fine and up to you. While it may cost you a little more initially, you will save yourself time with repeated appointments as they go out one by one. Just don’t let a dentist pressure you into it. There is nothing wrong with you replacing them just as you need to.

One thing I want you to consider if you decide to get them replaced all at once is the color of your teeth. If you are content with your teeth’ color, no further action is necessary. However, if you are considering brightening the color anytime soon, it will save you a significant amount of money to have your teeth whitening done before you replace your crowns. This way, the new crowns will match the updated color.

Once your crowns are completed, there is no way to change the color. If you whiten your teeth later, you will have the additional expense of replacing the crowns yet one more time in order for them to match.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

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