I have four dental crowns and have been told there is decay under them. They want to do a root canal. Will I be able to re-use the crowns after the root canal. I’m 78 years old and on a tight budget. I truly cannot afford to replace these crowns. Also, do you know how I can cut down on tooth decay? I brush my teeth after every meal, plus when I get up and before bed. I can’t figure out what else to do.
Bernadette P. from Tallahasee
Bernadette,
Whether you can salvage a dental crown when there is decay under it depends on how extensive the decay is. If the decay is deep inside the crown, the crown will have to be removed. That may require cutting the crown off, making it impossible to use it again. It is possible they could removed the crown intact. Sometimes it can be relined with a buildup material and placed into service again.
Regarding your tooth decay, probably the best thing you can do to prevent cavities is to not snack. Your body has a natural defense against decay– your saliva. Saliva has minerals in it that your body uses to repair the spots attacked by plaque. The only time you get tooth decay is when the rate of attack exceeds the rate of repair. The less you eat, the more saliva is available to fight plaque. You may consider chewing some sugar free gum, which will help promote saliva in your mouth.
This blog is brought to you by Boca Raton Dentist Dr. David Kagan.