Do Dental Crowns Cause Gums to Recede?

Dental crowns are an excellent choice for correcting a number of tooth issues such as discoloration and damage. At the same time, crowns can cause problems in the mouth, and one of those problems is gum recession. Here's what you need to know about this problem and some solutions to solving it.

Dental Crowns and Gum Recession

When dental crowns are properly fitted and installed—as most are—they have minimal impact on the health of your gums. Sometimes, though, a dentist will place a crown so that the edges of the dental appliance slip underneath or over gum tissue to make it more aesthetically pleasing. Unfortunately, gum tissue may become aggravated by the contact with the crown (especially if the crown is not cemented securely) and may recede over time as a result.

A second way dental crowns can cause you to lose gum tissue is if the crown is made using a metal you're allergic to. Crowns are made from a variety of materials including porcelain, resin, stainless steel, gold, nickel, or a mixture of one or more substances. A small percentage of the population is allergic to various metals with nickel being the most common (up to 36 percent of women and 15 percent of men are allergic). If you have or develop an allergy to the metal in your crown, the constant contact with it can cause inflammation in your gums and lead the tissue to recede.

Lastly, your gums may recede if the crown is not placed on the tooth correctly. A misplaced crown may throw your bite off, leading to lateral stress on the teeth. This unnatural movement may irritate gum tissue enough that they shrink away from the affected teeth.

Fixing the Problem

The first step in fixing the problem is to take care of the crown. Whether the damage was caused by poor dental work or an allergic reaction to the metal in a crown, the existing crown should be removed and a new one installed. If you suspect the problem is a metal allergy, get tested prior to having another crown put in. Though there are some at-home kits you can use to test yourself, it's best to have the testing done by your dentist or family physician to keep the margin for error or misinterpretation at a minimum.

The affected gum tissue may grow back on its own if you caught the problem early enough and practice excellent oral hygiene. Flossing at least once a day, brushing regularly, using a germicidal mouthwash, stopping smoking, and controlling systemic diseases such as diabetes will all go a long way towards providing a good environment for your gum tissue to grow back.

Moderate to severe cases of gum recession may require more aggressive treatment methods. One option is pocket depth reduction which involves folding down the gum tissue to clean out any bacteria that may have gathered there and then stretching the gum tissue over the roots. This procedure is best for cases where periodontal disease also contributed to gum recession.

A soft tissue graft is a remedy that works best in cases where too much gum tissue has been lost. This treatment involves taking donor tissue from the roof of your mouth and surgically placing it around the affected tooth. Alternatively, the dentist may use a synthetic material instead of taking tissue from your mouth. In either case, after a period of time, the tissue will integrate with the surround gums and provide protection to the tooth.

If you suspect your crowns are causing your gums to recede, connect with your dentist for more information and assistance in fixing the issue.