A crown that has worn or chipped at the side
A chipped or worn contact area can leave a space. If the damage is substantial or repairs have not held, the dentist considers whether any repair could restore the contact and the tooth’s function.
Restorative Dentistry
Dental Crown Replacement in Rockwood
Meat fibres, popcorn husks, a seed that will not budge: food wedging beside a crown after every meal is more than a nuisance. Coming from Rockwood, you can have the contact and the tooth checked before any decision on replacement.
Food that gets stuckGet an open contact checked
The toothpick after every dinner
Some people reach for floss or a toothpick after every meal because one gap beside a crown keeps collecting food. Over time it can lead to sore gum, a bad taste or decay on the neighbouring tooth. It is a common reason people start asking whether a crown needs redoing.
The cause is often a contact point that has opened up, where the crown no longer touches its neighbour firmly. Teeth shift, crowns wear and gum changes. Replacement, removing the existing crown and making a new one, is one way to restore that contact, but only once the reason is clear.
There may be more to it than the contact. The tooth under the crown can lose structure or develop decay at its edge. The examination covers what remains, the gum, any symptoms and past treatment. Describe where food collects and what you have tried, plus any concerns about colour or comfort, and we will explain the realistic options.
Causes behind food trapping
Why one gap keeps filling
Food trapping alone does not always mean the crown must go. Assessment helps identify the cause and whether it can be corrected without replacing a crown that is otherwise working.
Decay or a gap at the edge
Trapped food can lead to decay at the margin, and decay can in turn change how the crown fits. Examination helps establish what is happening and whether the crown has to come off for treatment.
An awkward shape you would like changed
A crown with a bulky or uneven contour can trap food and look out of place. Discuss what you would like to improve, keeping in mind that replacing a functioning crown involves both benefits and drawbacks.
Gum that is swollen, bleeding or painful around the crown should be mentioned. It may need attention sooner than the crown itself.
What a better contact can do
Food that moves on, gum that settles down
If a new crown is the best fix, it can be shaped to meet the neighbouring tooth properly and to suit your current bite. Contour, material and appearance are chosen together with the amount of tooth left underneath and the way you will clean around it.
A tighter contact helps, but it does not secure the tooth’s future by itself. What remains of the natural tooth, the nerve or an earlier root canal, the condition of the gum and other influences all continue to count. Ask which matter for your tooth.
Treat any decay caused by trapped food
Food packing can lead to decay on the crowned tooth or its neighbour. Ask how that will be treated, on both teeth if needed, before the new crown is completed.
Match the material to the job
Back teeth that take heavy chewing and see little visibility may suit different materials than front teeth. The choice should be explained for this tooth, not presented as one ideal for everybody.
Check whether the neighbour needs work too
Sometimes the open contact is partly due to the tooth next door, such as a worn filling. Ask whether treating the neighbour is part of the solution.
Closing the gap
How the work is usually sequenced
Appointments vary with what the tooth and its neighbour need, so agreeing a plan early makes trips from Rockwood easier to schedule. Before starting, ask about the temporary stage, comfort, costs and what happens if decay or other problems turn up.
Find out why food is trapping
The dentist checks the crown, the contact with the neighbouring tooth, the gum and your bite, and may take X-rays. You will learn the likely cause and what can only be confirmed once the crown is off.
Remove the crown if it is the cause
With your agreement and comfort measures in place, the crown is removed. The tooth and neighbour are examined directly, and anything that changes the plan is discussed before work continues.
Treat, rebuild and record
Decay is removed and a core placed if necessary, then impressions or a scan are made with attention to the contact area. Shade is selected where relevant, and a temporary protects the tooth.
Test the contact before cementing
Floss is passed through the new contact, fit and bite are confirmed, and you can comment on how it feels. After placement, care and cleaning are explained and any follow-up is arranged.
After the contact is restored
Keep the gum around it healthy
Once food stops packing, the gum often settles, but it still needs daily care. Ask for advice that takes into account any treatment on the crowned tooth or its neighbour.
Ease into chewing after the fitting
Depending on the cement and on lingering numbness, you may be asked to wait before chewing. Check before leaving, and protect your cheek and tongue until sensation returns.
Floss through the new contact
Floss should snap through a properly tight contact. If it shreds, will not pass or food still traps, let us know so the contour can be checked.
Report any lingering soreness
Tender gum, sensitivity or pain when biting should be checked rather than tested with hard foods. These may need a small adjustment or further assessment.
Patient information: ADA MouthHealthy — dental crowns
Food trapping questions(905) 876-4488
About gaps beside crowns
These questions often come up when food packs beside a crown. Add your own about appearance, timing or how the visits will work.
Why does food get stuck next to my crown but nowhere else?
The crown may no longer touch its neighbour firmly, its shape may leave a pocket, or the gum may have changed. Sometimes the neighbouring tooth is the cause. The dentist checks which applies.
Can trapped food cause decay?
Yes. Food and plaque held against the teeth can lead to decay at the crown margin or on the neighbouring tooth, and to gum inflammation. That is a good reason to have it checked.
Do teeth really move enough to open a contact?
They can shift gradually over the years, especially if a nearby tooth has been lost or the gum has changed. A small shift can be enough to create a gap where food collects.
Is an interdental brush safe to use around a crown?
Often, yes, if it is the right size. The team can show you a suitable size and technique. Cleaning tools help, but they will not fix an open contact.
Can the dentist add material to close the gap?
Sometimes a crown or neighbouring tooth can be built up to restore a contact. Whether that is practical depends on the materials involved, the size of the gap and the tooth’s condition.
How can I keep the number of trips from Rockwood down?
Ask at the first visit whether the neighbour needs treatment as well, and whether any steps can be combined. A clear plan helps you book appointments in a sensible order.
Rockwood crown replacement
Stop the food trap at its source
A visit to our Bronte Street practice lets us check the crown, the contact and the tooth underneath. We will explain whether a repair, a new crown or work on the neighbouring tooth is the best way to close the gap.
Swollen or painful gum, or a crown that moves, is worth mentioning when you contact us so the team can arrange suitable timing.
Visit Milton Dental ClinicUnit 1, 342 Bronte St. S, Milton, ON L9T 5B7Get directions
Clinic hours
- Monday–Thursday
- 11am–7pm
- Friday–Sunday
- By appointment only
Areas we serve
- Milton
- Oakville
- Mississauga
- Georgetown
- Halton Hills
- Acton
- Campbellville
- Brampton
- Burlington
- Puslinch
- Rockwood
- Erin
- Caledon
- Etobicoke
- Old Milton
- Bronte Meadows
- Timberlea
- Dorset Park
- Dempsey
- Clarke
- Beaty
- Coates
- Harrison
- Scott
- Willmott
- Ford
- Bowes
- Cobden
- Walker
- Mountain View
- Milton Heights
- Hawthorne Village
- Valley View
- Fallingbrook
- Nassagaweya
- Trafalgar
- Esquesing
- Nelson
- Brookville
- Moffat
- Glen Williams
- Norval
- Limehouse
- Stewarttown
- Ashgrove
- Hornby
- Silver Creek
- Speyside
- Scotch Block
- North Oakville
- River Oaks
- Glen Abbey
- West Oak Trails
- Palermo
- Bronte Creek
- College Park
- Joshua Creek
- Uptown Core
- Preserve
- Iroquois Ridge
- Lisgar
- Meadowvale
- Meadowvale Village
- Churchill Meadows
- Erin Mills
- Central Erin Mills
- Streetsville
- East Credit
- Creditview
- Heartland
- Sheridan
- Mount Pleasant
- Credit Valley
- Huttonville
- Churchville
- Springbrook
- Northwest Brampton
- Bram West
- Fletcher's Meadow
- Fletcher's Creek South
- Alton Village
- Orchard
- Millcroft
- Headon Forest
- Tansley
- Brant Hills
- Tyandaga
- Kilbride
- Lowville
- Aberfoyle
- Morriston
- Arkell
- Hillsburgh
- Freelton
- Carlisle
- Waterdown
- Flamborough
- Mountsberg
