What Margin Decay is and What to Do About It
What is margin decay?
It is tooth decay that begins where the tooth meets the crown. This is one of the hardest places for you to keep free of bacteria and plaque.
Why does it happen?
This can happen for many reasons. A crown does not completely cover the tooth. Bacteria can still affect the small margin of uncovered root surface at the bottom. This usually results from inadequate oral hygiene. Gum inflammation is common when this occurs.
Decay can also occur under the crown itself. Bacteria can enter under the margin and spread over the remainder of the tooth. The key to stopping this is to floss between teeth so all plaque is removed. Using a toothpick gently is a good way to get pieces of food out of crown margins as well.
There are times that decay starts because the cement bond deteriorates and saliva leaks in. This can carry bacteria under the surface of the crown and cause plaque to form on the tooth. This is a challenging situation, because even dental x-rays cannot always see the decay.
Does it need to be treated immediately?
Yes. This is not something you ever want to put off. If you do, the decay will grow under the crown. First, the decay will penetrate the outer layer of the tooth enamel and eat away at the tooth dentin. Bacteria will infect the dentin, which is much softer and more sensitive than tooth enamel. Once the decay completely moves through the dentin into the pulp chamber, the decay will attack the tooth’s root.
At this point you will need a root canal to save the tooth, or the tooth itself will be completely lost. Do not let this happen.
If margin decay occurs at the base of the crown or under the crown, how will I ever know if I have it?
If you feel tooth sensitivity, or if your crown feels lose, call us immediately for an appointment. If nothing appears out of the ordinary, you need to schedule periodic checkups and appointments for dental cleaning with us. Anyone with bridges or crowns needs to have professional checkups performed regularly because some things, like margin decay, can only be detected with a professional examination.
If margin decay is found, how do you treat it?
If the crown is located on the facial or lingual surface and is not extensive, we may can treat the tooth without removing the crown. A simple filling may be all that is necessary.
However, it is only the rare occasion where we are able to do this.
In most cases, we have to remove the crown and work on your tooth. Seldom can we preserve the crown for reuse. We have to have a new one made for you to make sure that any margin for future decay has been completely minimized.
It is tooth decay that begins where the tooth meets the crown. This is one of the hardest places for you to keep free of bacteria and plaque.
Why does it happen?
This can happen for many reasons. A crown does not completely cover the tooth. Bacteria can still affect the small margin of uncovered root surface at the bottom. This usually results from inadequate oral hygiene. Gum inflammation is common when this occurs.
Decay can also occur under the crown itself. Bacteria can enter under the margin and spread over the remainder of the tooth. The key to stopping this is to floss between teeth so all plaque is removed. Using a toothpick gently is a good way to get pieces of food out of crown margins as well.
There are times that decay starts because the cement bond deteriorates and saliva leaks in. This can carry bacteria under the surface of the crown and cause plaque to form on the tooth. This is a challenging situation, because even dental x-rays cannot always see the decay.
Does it need to be treated immediately?
Yes. This is not something you ever want to put off. If you do, the decay will grow under the crown. First, the decay will penetrate the outer layer of the tooth enamel and eat away at the tooth dentin. Bacteria will infect the dentin, which is much softer and more sensitive than tooth enamel. Once the decay completely moves through the dentin into the pulp chamber, the decay will attack the tooth’s root.
At this point you will need a root canal to save the tooth, or the tooth itself will be completely lost. Do not let this happen.
If margin decay occurs at the base of the crown or under the crown, how will I ever know if I have it?
If you feel tooth sensitivity, or if your crown feels lose, call us immediately for an appointment. If nothing appears out of the ordinary, you need to schedule periodic checkups and appointments for dental cleaning with us. Anyone with bridges or crowns needs to have professional checkups performed regularly because some things, like margin decay, can only be detected with a professional examination.
If margin decay is found, how do you treat it?
If the crown is located on the facial or lingual surface and is not extensive, we may can treat the tooth without removing the crown. A simple filling may be all that is necessary.
However, it is only the rare occasion where we are able to do this.
In most cases, we have to remove the crown and work on your tooth. Seldom can we preserve the crown for reuse. We have to have a new one made for you to make sure that any margin for future decay has been completely minimized.
Labels: benefits of cosmetic porcelain dental crowns, dental crowns, margin decay, tooth decay
posted by Dental Expert at
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