What causes a dental bridge, crown or veneer to break?
Dental bridges, crowns and veneers are generally made of one of, or a combination of, the following materials:
- Metal
- Porcelain
- Composite Resin
Generally the materials are very strong and do not break very often.
When they do break, it is often due to the restoration being quite old and coming to the end of its ‘natural life’. Unfortunately nothing lasts for ever, and this certainly applies to dental restorations.
If the restoration has broken sooner than expected, there are a number of possible contributing factors, with the most common being:
- An inadequate restoration thickness
- Inappropriate use of the material chosen to construct the restoration
- A heavy bite or habits such as tooth grinding
What causes a dental bridge, crown or veneer to become loose?
These restorations are either cemented or bonded onto the underlying tooth. They will therefore become loose if there is a failure in either the tooth itself or the cement or bond used to attach it onto the tooth:
Failure of the cement or bond
Cements do have a lifespan and often a crown that has been in the mouth many years will exceed the lifespan of the cement, causing it to loosen and fall out.
The cement or bond can also fail due to a difficulty in attaching to the underlying tooth either as a result of a lack of tooth structure or a tooth substance that is not conducive to the type of cement or bond being used.
Failure of the underlying tooth
Should the underlying tooth fail, either due to chronic fatigue or dental decay, this will often result in the overlying restoration being lost.
What are the risks of not seeing a dentist as soon as possible?
In addition to the obvious cosmetic issues that can arise when a dental bridge, crown or veneer breaks or falls out, there are also potentially serious consequences of delaying treatment tooth long.
Even if the tooth is not painful initially, the underlying tooth may be damaged by exposure to stimuli within the mouth, resulting in damage to the nerve within the tooth and potentially the development of a dental abscess. This can mean a root canal treatment being needed, or in the worst case scenario, a tooth extraction.
There is also a risk that if the restoration is left too long before being re-attached, it may not fit back onto the tooth correctly. This can mean a new dental bridge, crown or veneer being needed.
How can The 247 Dentist help with my broken or loose dental bridge, crown or veneer?
It is essential to see a dentist as soon as possible once you detect a breakage in, or loosening of, a dental bridge, crown or veneer.
It may be possible for The 247 Dentist to repair or re-fix the restoration in question, preventing further damage to the tooth and reducing the risk of more extensive treatment or the need for a new restoration.
It is not always possible to repair or re-fix the restoration. In this case, the tooth may need extraction or the construction of a new bridge, crown or veneer. If a new restoration is required, an appointment can be arranged with a dentist (should you require this) for construction of a new restoration.