What to Do If You Have a Gap Between Your Crown and Your Gums

woman looking in mirror at her dental crowns in Spring Hill

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. This gap gets larger as the days pass. What What can you do? 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. You may have eaten something that has caused it to loosen. Consuming sticky foods like caramel and gummy candies can cause your crown to become partially or even fully.

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 eating hard or sticky foods when you have a crown on your 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 is also very familiar with the treatment of crowns on natural teeth. If you have a space under your crown, feel free to contact Dr. Chapman’s practice.

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