A dental crown in Jackson, Mississippi, is a nearly perfect replica of the enamel layer of a tooth. Food particles and plaque will harden into tartar if they are not cleaned away from the crown. This promotes tooth decay and gum disease.
The advanced form of gum disease, known as periodontitis, can cause your gums to recede from the base of your teeth, creating small pockets of infection in your gums. Constant bacterial exposure to this area can give the bacteria direct access to the seam where your crown is cemented to the abutment. This could potentially start to weaken the cement holding the crown to the abutment.
In time, periodontitis can even cause the loss of bone structure in your jaw. This could cause the core of the tooth to come loose or it could result in the abutment breaking off inside the gum line.
To prevent these complications, Dr. Alex Abernathy advocates brushing and flossing the crown twice a day, just as you would the rest of your natural teeth. If you do have some tartar build up on your teeth or if you develop gum disease, the problem can often be treated by a dental cleaning and checkup with your dentist.
If you have questions or concerns about the best way to clean and maintain your new crown, you can always call Lakeland Dental Care at 601-981-8166 to ask additional questions.