Cracked Porcelain Crown

I have quite a few porcelain crowns. One of them has always had a small defect I was told was normal. It’s never been very noticeable. I could feel it with my tongue, but not see it. Recently, though, there has been a change. I can now feel it and see it. It looks like a small horizontal crack. I’m assuming I need to replace the crown. What I want to know is if it has to be replaced immediately, like a dental emergency, or if it can wait.

Brooke

Dear Brooke,

While I would not consider this a dental emergency, you will want to fix it. There has been a significant change, so my suggestion is you don’t put it off too long.

A bigger consideration is whether you just replace this one crown or all of them. They are getting up there in their expected longevity. The others may start to go too. My suggestion is that you see an expert cosmetic dentist and have them look at the remainder of the crowns and advise you. If they are still in good shape, you can replace just the one, which will save you some money.

If you do decide just to replace the one porcelain crown, make certain that you have a highly skilled cosmetic dentist to it. Matching a single porcelain crown to a tooth is not something your average dentist can do. If you don’t already have a cosmetic dentist, then I suggest you go to the mynewsmile.com website to choose one.

Because cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty, it is hard for patients to know who has the post-doctoral training to do it well. Everyone listed on this website has been pre-screened for their technical knowledge and training, as well as their artistry.

This blog is brought to you by West Seneca Dentist Dr. Warren Krutchick.