My dentist did a root canal on an upper right tooth about 12 years ago. Two years ago, the crown fell off, and my dentist replaced it. Since that time, the crown fell off three times, and my dentist cemented it back on. But my crown still feels a little loose. Not much tooth is left beneath the crown. Is this recementing something that I need to accept? The next time it falls off, I’m tempted to find a completely different dentist who takes urgent appointments to see if they can do any better than my dentist.
Thanks. Rebeka from Virginia
Rebeka,
When a crown keeps falling off, the problem is usually the design of the crown preparation. If that’s true in your case, you might need a new crown.
When a Root Canal Tooth Is Badly Broken
When a root canal tooth doesn’t have much structure left, a dentist can’t prepare the tooth properly. Some dentists use this method to improve crown retention:
- Remove some of the root canal filler material
- Place a flexible fiberglass post about 2/3 the tooth length into the canal and cement it in place
- Bond core material to the post and tooth
- Bond the crown to the built-up tooth
It won’t help to see another dentist for an emergency appointment because your situation can’t be corrected that quickly. The resolution takes forethought, time, and skill. The photographs on this page, courtesy of Dentistry Today, are an example of a treatment option that might work for your case.
If a dentist builds up your tooth with a post and composite, the tooth should retain a crown. But you need some remaining tooth structure for this to work. If crown retention only comes from the post, normal function and twisting stress will break the post, and the crown will fall off.
Look for an experienced dentist, schedule a consultation, and ask about treatment options.
Ryan Perry DDS, a Baton Rouge family dentist, sponsors this post.