6 Ways To Tell If You Have An Infection Under Your Dental Crown

22 December 2020
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

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Dental crowns, like natural teeth, are susceptible to dental infection. If you care for your oral health with special focus on your dental crown, your crown could last a decade or more. But, because oral bacteria are ever-present, the risk of infection always remains. If you suspect that you have an infection under your dental crown, look for the following indicators.

1. Pain When You Bite Down

The most obvious sign of infection under a dental crown is pain. This pain usually reveals itself when you bite down as you eat. But the location of dental pain is sometimes difficult to pinpoint because of the positioning of the nerves. So you will need to look for additional signs.  

2. Noticeable Swelling Around the Crown

If your crown seems to have risen up above the other teeth, then this indicates swelling. You might be able to feel the difference when you bite down. You may also see the swelling when you examine the area.

3. Redness Around the Gum

Swelling and redness of the gum tissue around a dental crown usually come together. This is because the infection under the crown has caused the gum tissue to become inflamed.

4. A Foul Odor Emanating From the Crown

Bacteria usually give off a foul odor because they excrete a smelly compound after they feed on the simple sugars in the foods that you eat. If bacteria have infected the area under your crown, then the area will smell bad. This is an indication of a high number of bacterial organisms in the area.

5. A Dental Abscess Under the Crowned Tooth

When infection occurs inside a tooth, your body sends white blood cells to attack the bacteria congregating there. A battle then ensues between white blood cells and bacteria. This produces a white to yellow pus that builds up inside the tooth. If this pus leaks out into your gum tissue, a dental abscess that resembles a boil or pimple will form on the gum tissue.

6. Swollen Glands

Swollen neck glands are also a sign of infection. If you have seen the aforementioned signs as well as swollen neck glands, this could indicate the presence of infection under your dental crown.

If you are seeing any of the aforementioned infection signs, then you have an infection under your dental crown. You need to seek treatment from your dentist before the infection spreads. Contact your dentist today and book an appointment. If you act fast, they can treat the infection and replace the crown.