Gaps appearing in dental crowns after placement are a common complication many people encounter if the procedure is not performed correctly or if post-operative care is inadequate. When the base of a dental crown is exposed, patients often experience symptoms such as persistent pain, bad breath, and even digestive issues due to bacterial invasion. More seriously, if not addressed promptly, this phenomenon can damage the underlying natural tooth, increasing the risk of tooth loosening or loss.
Signs of Gaps in Dental Crowns
When there’s a gap at the base of your dental crown, you can recognize it through several clear signs that require early examination and treatment to prevent serious complications.
Visible Gap Between Dental Crown and Gum
A gap between the dental crown and the gum is often clearly visible at the junction of the crown and the gum line. You can identify it with the naked eye when looking in a mirror or by touching the base of the tooth with your tongue to feel it. When a gap is present, bacteria can penetrate deep inside, causing inflammation, pain, leading to decay of the tooth abutment, and gradually destroying the natural tooth root. If prolonged, the natural tooth weakens, becoming unable to support the crown and potentially leading to breakage or loss.
Gum Recession Exposing the Abutment Tooth
Improper crowning techniques can lead to easy bacterial invasion, causing gum irritation and recession. This exposes the tooth root, especially in the area of incisors and canines. This condition not only affects aesthetics but also reduces the lifespan of the dental crown.
Appearance of Faint Dark Stains at the Tooth Base
Individuals with metal-ceramic crowns are at risk of developing faint dark stains around the base of the tooth. When a metal-ceramic crown has a gap, the space between the tooth and the gum stimulates oxidation, causing the tooth base to darken. You can inspect the crowned area for early detection.
Feeling of Discomfort, Sensitivity, and Pain When Chewing
If you experience discomfort, sensitivity, or pain when chewing, the cause might be a weak, exposed, or sensitive tooth abutment. Additionally, if the crown is not fitted correctly, it can be misaligned, not properly matching the bite, causing discomfort during eating.
Frequent Food Impaction Between Teeth Leading to Bad Breath
Incorrectly proportioned dental crowns can easily make the gaps between teeth either too narrow or too wide compared to normal physiological spaces. When eating, food debris gets trapped between teeth, especially at molars, canines, or incisors, causing discomfort and irritation. If not thoroughly cleaned, these areas become ideal environments for bacteria, easily leading to oral diseases such as tooth decay, gingivitis, and bad breath.
What Happens If Your Dental Crown Has a Gap?
A gapped dental crown is one of the common complications after restorative dentistry. If not promptly addressed from the first signs of an exposed crown base, patients may face many serious detrimental effects on their oral and overall health.
Causes Persistent Pain and Bad Breath
When a dental crown has a gap, food debris easily gets trapped between teeth, and inadequate cleaning leads to persistent bad breath. A large amount of trapped food can fill the tooth abutment, causing damage to it, thus creating persistent pain, especially when eating or brushing teeth.
Significant Aesthetic Loss
A gapped dental crown often exposes the tooth abutment, darkening the gum line, which detracts from facial aesthetics and results in an unnatural smile. This significantly impacts the patient’s self-confidence and daily communication.
Increased Risk of Natural Tooth Loss
The dental crowning process requires the dentist to prepare the natural tooth to create an abutment that holds the crown. If the crown does not fit the gum line properly, it will create a gap – an ideal breeding ground for bacteria that cause oral diseases such as tooth decay, gingivitis, and periodontitis. These bacteria can damage the natural tooth, leading to the risk of permanent tooth loss if not treated promptly.
Affects the Digestive System
The pain and sensitivity caused by a gapped dental crown make patients lose appetite and chew less, leading to adverse effects on the digestive system. When food is not thoroughly chewed, the stomach works harder, causing conditions such as acid reflux, stomach pain, ulcerative colitis, and even constipation.
Impaired Chewing Function
A poorly fitting dental crown causes sensitivity and pain when consuming hot or cold foods, making patients reluctant to eat, easily lose appetite, and try to swallow food without proper chewing. Consequently, chewing function declines, affecting long-term digestive health.
Effective and Safe Solutions for Gapped Dental Crowns from Dental Professionals
Upon detecting signs of a gapped dental crown, you should visit a dentist immediately for a thorough examination and diagnosis. Early detection helps determine the appropriate treatment plan and minimizes risks. According to experts, the only definitive way to resolve this issue is to remove the dental crown and properly refit it.
Depending on the cause and extent of the gapped dental crown, there are two common treatment scenarios:
If the dental crown is misaligned or gapped solely due to errors in the initial installation technique, the dentist only needs to remove and refit the crown; there’s no need to fabricate a new one. If the dental bridge is not damaged and still fits the abutment tooth, it only needs to be re-cemented with an adequate amount of dental adhesive to ensure long-lasting stability.
If the cause stems from a crown fabricated with incorrect dimensions, a poor-quality crown, or a damaged one, it is mandatory to take new impressions and fabricate a new dental crown. The dentist will take an impression and create a dental bridge as they would for the first time to ensure proper bite, aesthetics, and durability for the tooth.
After getting a dental bridge, if you notice signs of a gapped dental crown, do not be complacent. Observe, check carefully, and visit your dentist for prompt resolution. Delaying treatment can worsen the condition, negatively impacting oral health and increasing treatment costs.
