Dental crowns are caps that are placed over a compromised tooth in order to restore its shape, size, strength, appearance and overall condition. Once you get a crown fitted, you can expect it to last anywhere from 10 to 20 years, as long as the crown as properly installed and you have made a genuine effort to maintain your dental health. Unfortunately, dental crowns are still subject to cavities, fractures and infections. This article will look at how infections happen, and 5 popular ways to prevent an infection from happening.

The Basics of a Dental Crown Infection

An infected dental crown basically means that the crowned tooth is infected and a significant amount of pus has already formed. This causes the crowned tooth to extrude slightly out of its socket and its original position. This causes the infected tooth to rise higher than its neighboring teeth, which then results in a painful sensation whenever you bite down.

In general, if the dental crown is infected, a dentist will also see evidence of swelling in the tissues that surround the affected teeth. If you do not treat the infection, it will only spread and progressively worsen. As a result, you should contact a dentist immediately if you experience any sharp, excruciating pain where a dental crown was installed.

Keep in mind that the dental crown infection may not happen immediately. If the dental crown was not installed properly or if you do not have excellent dental hygiene, it's just a matter of time. You literally have a ticking time bomb in your mouth.

5 Ways to Prevent an Infection

To prevent your dental crowns from getting infected, you have to make sure that they were installed properly, and also be diligent in maintaining your dental health. There are 3 preventive mechanisms that are commonly recommended. They include:

• brushing and flossing your teeth regularly. This will prevent particles of food from getting lodged in between your teeth. These food particles encourage bacterial growth. Brushing and flossing regularly will also get remove the layer of plaque that has formed on the surface of your teeth. Plaque contains a lot of harmful bacteria. It's important to remove all of the plaque without a professional cleaning
• making sure the dental crown is properly installed. If the dental crown is not properly installed or if the crown has been damaged, it makes the underlying tooth and tissue susceptible to bacterial infections
• noticing problems with your crown's bite. When you close your mouth, your teeth should line up properly. If there are any abnormalities or irregularities, the dentist will need to buff down the surface of the crown, so it's in harmony with your bite. Even if the height of the dental crown is perfect, your teeth may still be able to slide around. This can deflect normal jaw movements
• wearing a mouth guard at night to prevent the dental crowns from fracturing. The mouth guard will effectively protect the dental crowns from impact caused by teeth grinding and other problems
• getting your teeth checked regularly. Most dentists recommend scheduling an appointment once every 6 months. Your dentist will need to examine the dental crown to determine whether there are any early symptoms of an infection and whether the dental crown is still in working condition

Conclusion

Although getting a dental crown can fix many of your dental problems, you need to understand that your dental crown will only last if you make an effort to keep it in pristine condition. With a little bit of effort, you can easily prolong the life of the dental crowns and make sure they do their job.