Old Crowns Failing? Full-Mouth Reconstruction in Bethlehem, PA

If your old crowns and bridges are starting to chip, loosen or look worn, you're probably weighing two choices: fix each one as it fails, or plan for your whole mouth at once. The right answer depends on how many teeth are involved and how well your bite still works. When several pieces of older dental work are wearing out together, a full-mouth reconstruction plan lets you take care of every problem in a sensible order, so you aren't left reacting to one broken crown after another. At Always About Smiles in Bethlehem, PA, Dr. Thomas R. Lambert, DMD, MAGD, builds that plan with you and explains each step before anything starts.

Should I replace old crowns one at a time or plan a full-mouth reconstruction?

Replace one crown at a time when a single tooth has a problem and the rest of your mouth is healthy. Plan a full-mouth reconstruction when many crowns, bridges and fillings are aging together, when your bite has changed, or when several teeth need different kinds of treatment at the same time.

Crowns and bridges can serve you for many years, and they can still wear, chip or come loose over time and need to be replaced, as the American Dental Association explains in its patient guide to dental crowns. When most of your dental work was placed around the same time, it often wears out around the same time too.

A full-mouth reconstruction plan looks at every tooth, your gums and your bite together, then sets the order of the work. You still have teeth treated one or a few at a time. Each step fits a plan for the whole mouth, so the finished result works and looks like one smile. You can read more about the crowns, bridges and other care involved on our restorative dentistry page.

What are the signs that old dental work is failing?

The most common signs are changes you can see or feel. Call us if you notice any of these:

• A crown or bridge that feels loose, has chipped or has come off
• Dark edges where an old crown meets the gum line
• Soreness or sensitivity when you bite down on an older crown
• Teeth that look flatter or shorter than they used to
• Trouble chewing on one side, or a bite that feels different than it did

Worn, flattened teeth often show up alongside failing crowns. According to the Mayo Clinic's overview of teeth grinding, grinding and clenching can flatten and chip teeth and damage crowns and other dental work. That's why we look at how you bite, along with what each tooth needs. To see the full range of problems we treat, visit our page on missing, worn and cracked teeth.

What happens first when several teeth need work?

The most urgent problems come first. At your first appointment, Dr. Lambert evaluates your mouth, tells you what needs to be done and talks it through with you. Treatment then starts with the teeth that need attention most, such as a tooth that needs a root canal, and works toward the rest.

Gum care is part of the plan too. Our hygienist, Carolee, provides the periodontal therapy our patients need to achieve and maintain a healthy smile.

You stay in control of the pace. We focus on prevention, education and affordability, and Mary Lou, our office manager, coordinates your treatment plan and handles the insurance paperwork for you. Tell us the pace you want, and we'll plan the stages around it.

Why do Bethlehem patients choose Dr. Lambert at Always About Smiles for full-mouth reconstruction?

Patients choose us because Dr. Lambert rebuilds a whole mouth the way he'd restore a single tooth, with the same care on every crown. In Dr. Lambert's words, "I don't treat it as a whole mouth. I treat a whole mouth as this is an individual crown, individual crown, and if you do enough, you're going to get the whole mouth done."

That attention carries into the technical details. Dr. Lambert says that "when you take impressions of 32 teeth, impressions don't work," so on large cases he takes impressions in sections. It's a small, careful choice that shapes how the finished work fits.

He also makes sure you understand your options before you decide. "I don't sell dentistry. I educate the patient. I think there's nothing stronger than an educated patient," Dr. Lambert says. Dr. Lambert holds Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry, and our practice has cared for local families since 1988. When you come in, you see the same doctor at every visit, from your first exam to your final crown.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have my old crowns replaced in stages?

Yes. Dr. Lambert works through a full-mouth plan one tooth or one section at a time, in the order your plan sets, at the pace you want.

Does Dr. Lambert do root canals in your office?

Yes. Dr. Lambert performs root canals in our office, so a tooth that needs one can be treated as part of your full-mouth plan.

Who helps me with insurance paperwork?

Mary Lou, our office manager, coordinates treatment plans and handles the insurance paperwork for you, so you can focus on your care.

How can I protect new crowns if I grind my teeth?

Ask us about a lab-made night guard. Grinding can damage crowns and other dental work, and a guard helps protect your teeth and your new restorations while you sleep.

I play a wind instrument. Can I still have my crowns replaced?

Yes. For larger dental procedures, Dr. Lambert can make temporary trial crowns first so you can regain your normal playing embouchure before the final work is placed.

If your old crowns and bridges are wearing out, call us at (610) 868-9928 or contact our Bethlehem dental office to schedule an exam with Dr. Lambert. We'll look at your whole mouth and walk you through every option.

Published by Always About Smiles (Dr. Thomas R. Lambert).