While it might look strong and sturdy, don’t be fooled by the silvery (or gold) cap in your mouth. There are actually several good reasons to replace your metal crown. Any smile will suffer if you ignore these truths for too long, putting your oral health at greater risk. Your Temple dentist will even lay out these truths in close detail for you here and now. To that end, consider the ideas below for why you should switch from a metal crown to a non-metallic one.
It Makes Your Tooth Sensitive
When you don’t switch it out, a metallic crown is likely to cause tooth sensitivity. The resulting irritation will then disrupt your day-to-day life.
The problem is that metal is a great conductor of heat, whether it’s gold, silver, or other alloys. Metallic crowns are thus prone to channeling temperature changes, sending them into your tooth’s nerves. Rather old ones will even make your smile hurt when hot or cold foods touch them.
It Breaks Down Dental Implants
Unless you replace your metal crown, it’s likely to corrode your dental implants slowly (and surely). Your prosthetic posts will then fail more quickly.
The titanium in an implant post doesn’t react well to a crown’s metal(s). When the former interacts with gold, it often generates an electric current that causes corrosion. That means a gold crown could potentially make your implant fail, leading to a less-than-full grin.
It Weakens Your Smile
Though it may have protective effects, a metal crown isn’t good for your oral health. Not switching it out will eventually prompt your smile to weaken.
Don’t forget that human beings aren’t “meant” to have metal in their mouths. The metallic part(s) of a crown don’t normally interact with one’s body, so they can cause green-colored gums and major allergic reactions. Other effects include the onset (and hiding) of decay, with your tooth receiving poor protection from bacteria.
It Interferes with MRIs
Over time, a metal crown you “leave in” won’t just affect your mouth. It’ll likely interfere with and disrupt any MRIs you need to get.
These facts are natural due to metal’s natural magnetism. When you have a crown made of nickel and gold, it’ll respond to an MRI’s magnetic field and distort the device’s pictures. The cap might even become drawn to (or repulsed by) the machine’s magnet and fly off your tooth!
The points above are worth taking seriously, so please replace your metal crown soon. All you’ll have to do is visit your local dental provider.
About the Author
Dr. Richard Fossum is a dentist based in Temple, TX, having earned his DDS from the UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry. Thirty years in dental work make him a prime expert in preventive, cosmetic, and restorative oral treatments. On the other hand, continued membership in the American and Texas Dental Associations keeps his smile-related skills and knowledge as sharp as ever. Today, Dr. Fossum practices at his self-titled clinic and is reachable on his website and by phone at (254)-831-4397.