I have dental crowns on three front teeth, but the crown on my right front tooth keeps falling off. My dentist says that cementing the crown to the tooth is challenging, but he is willing to keep trying. I don’t know what is happening beneath the crown, but if it will not stick to my tooth, will I eventually need tooth removal and an implant? Thank you. Cleo from Raleigh, NC
Cleo,
Thank you for contacting the Beverly Hills Institute of Dental Esthetics. Dr. LeSage would need to examine your tooth and crown and take x-rays to determine why your crown dislodges, but we will explain possible options.
Why Does a Crown Fall Off a Front Tooth?
When a dental crown repeatedly falls off a front tooth or any tooth, it may be related to how your dentist prepared your tooth for the crown or cemented it. If a dentist aggressively shaved down your tooth, you may need a new crown.
How Can You Keep a Crown on With Minimal Tooth Structure Left?
If minimal tooth structure remains for cementing a crown to the tooth, a dentist may have success with the following steps:
- Insert a flexible fiberglass deep into the tooth canal
- Use dental cement to stabilize the post
- Bond dental composite to your tooth and the post
- Shape the composite to look like a natural tooth that has been prepared for a crown
- Attach the crown to the built-up tooth
Get a scond opinion on whether you need to replace a front tooth with a dental implant
Whether this technique works depends on your tooth’s condition and whether it is broken off to the gumline. Stress on a weak tooth can cause the post inside the tooth to loosen, and the crown will fall off again. After an exam and digital x-rays, a dentist may recommend an extraction and dental implant.
Consult with a Cosmetic Dentist
We recommend scheduling an appointment with two advanced cosmetic dentists to discuss your options for restoring your tooth with a crown or replacing it with a dental implant.
Accredited Fellow of cosmetic dentistry and dental implant restoring dentist Dr. Brian LeSage of Beverly Hills, California, sponsors this post.