Replacing an old failed crown or bridge
Crowns and bridges last many years, but not forever. When an old one fails, the cause is usually the tooth or gum under it, and that decides what the replacement looks like.
Medically reviewed by Dt. Hüseyin Yavuz Özbek, implant surgeon · Updated October 2026Replacing an old failed crown or bridge usually means removing it, checking and treating the tooth underneath, then making a new crown or bridge. The most common reasons old work fails are decay at the edge of the crown, gum disease or recession, chipped porcelain and loss of cement. If the supporting tooth is too damaged, an implant may replace it instead.
Many of our patients come to us not for their first crown but for their third or fourth on the same tooth. They had a crown or bridge fitted twenty or thirty years ago, it served them well, and now it is chipped, dark at the gum, loose or simply painful. Replacing an old failed crown or bridge is one of the most common things our dentists do. It is also one of the cases where the plan cannot be fully known until the old work is off, because the real question is what is underneath. This article explains why old crowns fail, the signs to look out for, and what replacement actually involves.
A crown does not decay, the tooth under it can
A crown is a cap made of ceramic, metal or both, cemented over a prepared tooth. The crown itself cannot get decay. But the tooth it covers is still living tissue, and the place where crown meets tooth, called the margin, is a natural trap for plaque. Over the years, cement can wash out, the gum can recede to expose the root, and bacteria can get in.
The NHS explains that tooth decay starts when bacteria form a sticky layer called plaque over the teeth. Under a crown this can go on unseen for a long time, because the crown hides it. By the time you notice, the damage can be well advanced.
The common reasons old crowns and bridges fail
| Cause | What you may notice | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| Decay at the margin | Dark line at the gum, sensitivity, bad taste | Crown off, decay removed, tooth rebuilt and re-crowned |
| Gum recession | Crown edge or metal visible, longer-looking tooth | Replacement for appearance and to cover exposed root where possible |
| Chipped or cracked porcelain | Rough edge, visible chip | Small chips smoothed; larger ones need a new crown |
| Loss of cement | Crown moves, food or taste around it | Re-cementing if the tooth is sound, or replacement |
| Infection in the root | Pain, swelling, a gum boil | Root canal treatment or extraction before a new crown |
| Tooth fracture under the crown | Sudden loose crown, often with tooth attached | Depends on how much tooth is left; sometimes an implant instead |
Research backs this up. Large reviews of crowns and bridges in Dental Materials found five-year survival of roughly 90% to 95% for most crown and bridge types, and listed decay in the supporting teeth, chipping of the porcelain and crowns coming loose among the main problems. Bridges are more exposed, because one bridge depends on two or more supporting teeth. If one of them fails, the whole bridge is affected.
Warning signs worth acting on
- A grey or dark line at the gum edge of a crown that was not there before.
- Food catching around a crown or under a bridge more than it used to.
- A bad taste or smell from one area, especially after flossing.
- Sensitivity to hot, cold or sweet on a crowned tooth.
- Pain on biting, or a crown or bridge that feels slightly loose.
- Pain in the gum, redness or swelling near the tooth, which the NHS lists among the signs of a dental abscess.
Some old crowns are failing without any symptoms. A recent X-ray often shows decay or infection that you cannot feel. If you are planning a visit, send us that X-ray first.
Leaving a leaking crown for too long rarely saves money. The decay keeps going, and a tooth that could have been simply re-crowned may end up needing a root canal or an extraction.
What replacement involves
- Assessment before you travel You send a recent X-ray or photos. One of our dentists reviews them and sends a preliminary written plan and itemised price. No payment is needed to receive it.
- Exam and 3D scan in Antalya On day one, a full exam, X-rays and a 3D CBCT scan show the roots, the bone and any infection. The final plan is confirmed in writing.
- Removing the old work Under local anaesthetic, the old crown or bridge is carefully cut off. It usually cannot be reused, so it is removed in a way that protects the tooth underneath.
- Checking the tooth This is the moment of truth. The dentist looks at how much sound tooth is left, removes any decay and checks the nerve.
- Repairing the foundation The tooth is rebuilt with a filling core. If the nerve is infected, root canal treatment is done first.
- New crown or bridge The tooth is prepared, scanned with an intraoral scanner and fitted with a temporary. After a try-in, the new crown or bridge is cemented and the bite is checked.
For crowns and bridges on natural teeth, this usually fits into one trip of about 5 to 7 days. Our article on a crowns trip day by day shows how that week runs.
Why the plan can change on the day
We are honest about this with every patient. An X-ray shows a lot, but not everything. Metal in old crowns can hide what is beneath it, and decay can reach further than the image suggests. When the old crown comes off, the dentist may find one of three things:
- A healthy tooth. It is cleaned, rebuilt if needed and re-crowned. This is the most common outcome.
- A tooth that needs root canal treatment. The nerve is treated first and then the tooth is crowned. We give a written price after seeing your X-ray; root canal treatment is not covered by our guarantee.
- A tooth that cannot be saved. If too little sound tooth is left or the root is cracked, the tooth is removed and the gap is replaced, usually with an implant. That changes the timing, because implants need two trips.
If the plan changes, the dentist stops, explains what they have found and why, and updates your written plan and price before carrying on. You decide.
Choosing the material for the new crown
Many old crowns are metal-ceramic, with a metal base under porcelain. When the gum recedes, that metal can show as a dark line. Replacements at our clinic are usually metal-free.
- Zirconia is very strong and suits back teeth, bridges and people who grind. £150 per tooth or bridge unit. See zirconia crowns.
- E-max has more translucency and is often chosen for front teeth. £225 per crown.
If you are replacing a crown on one front tooth, the shade has to match the natural teeth beside it. If you are thinking about whitening, do it first, because crowns do not change colour once made.
Replacing an old bridge
An old bridge is a single piece, so if one supporting tooth fails, the whole bridge usually has to come off. Once it is off, there are often more options than when it was first made. If the supporting teeth are still strong, a new bridge is usually the simplest answer. If one is lost, the dentist may suggest implants to carry a new bridge, or a single implant plus a crown on the remaining tooth. Our article what is a dental bridge explains the types.
Making the new one last longer
The new crown faces the same risks as the old one, so the habits matter. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, paying attention to the gum line. Clean between your teeth and under any bridge every day with floss, a threader or interdental brushes. Keep sugary snacks and drinks to mealtimes. See your own dentist and hygienist regularly. If you grind your teeth, wear a night guard; our guarantee can be reduced or void if a grinder does not wear one.
New crowns and bridges carry our written 5-year guarantee. The full terms, including what is not covered, are on our guarantee page.
If an old crown or bridge is giving you trouble, send us a recent X-ray or a few photos through our contact page or on WhatsApp. One of our dentists will review them and send you a written plan with an itemised price. You can also read more on our crowns page.
Common questions
How do I know my old crown needs replacing?
Common signs are a dark line or gap at the gum edge, a bad taste or smell around the crown, food catching, sensitivity or pain, a crown that moves, or chipped porcelain. Some problems, like decay under a crown, show only on an X-ray.
Can a crown be replaced without root canal treatment?
Often yes. If the tooth underneath is healthy, it is cleaned, repaired and re-crowned. Root canal treatment is needed only if the nerve is infected or badly inflamed, which the X-ray and exam help show.
Can an old bridge be repaired rather than replaced?
Small chips can sometimes be smoothed or repaired. But if one supporting tooth has decay or the bridge has come loose on one side, the whole bridge usually needs to come off, because the bridge is one piece.
What if the tooth under my crown cannot be saved?
It is removed and the gap is replaced, usually with an implant or a new bridge on other teeth. Extractions are free at our clinic as part of a treatment plan. See dental implants.
Is the new crown guaranteed?
Crowns and bridges made at our clinic carry a written 5-year guarantee. Earlier work by other dentists and root canal treatment are not covered. See our guarantee page.
Sources
- NHS: Tooth decay
- NHS: Dental abscess
- Oral Health Foundation: Crowns
- Sailer et al. (2015), Dental Materials: All-ceramic or metal-ceramic tooth-supported fixed dental prostheses? Part I: Single crowns
- Sailer et al. (2015), Dental Materials: All-ceramic or metal-ceramic tooth-supported fixed dental prostheses? Part II: Multiple-unit FDPs
Checked October 2026. Where we give our own view as a clinic, we say so.
Get your treatment plan and price in writing
Send a few photos of your teeth or a recent X-ray. One of our dentists looks at it and you get an itemised plan before you book anything.