You may believe that your crowns keep your teeth protected from cavities or dental caries. The truth is, a dental crown won't protect the underlying tooth from decay over time if your diet and oral hygiene are not good.

Dentists often see older patients who have perfectly good crowns, yet the bases of their teeth are pitted with decay near the gum line. Fortunately, there are several ways your dentist can repair the damage without requiring an entirely new crown.

Here's what you should know about getting your under-crown cavities fixed:

Let the dental office know about your budget concerns

Many dentists understand that elderly patients are on a fixed income, and they know that younger patients have financial struggles, too. Today there are a variety of methods to choose from when repairing decayed teeth with crowns, and your restorative work won't be such a burden if you choose one of the more financially accessible options. In some mild cases, your dentist might be able to clean away the rotten parts of the tooth base and add resin without even removing the crown. 

A variety of replacement and repair materials are now available to dentists, and many of these formulations require less time in the dental chair to repair the parts of your teeth that need to be covered. Be honest with your dentist about what you can afford, and they will work with you to find the most effective, practical solution for your situation.

The crown may be saved even if temporarily removed

Depending on the type of crown you have, it may be possible to remove the crown and use it again. This saves the dentist time and saves you the cost of a brand new crown.

Your dentist will use the removed crown to make an impression in resin at the bottom of the crown, either on the crown itself or on the tooth base. Depending on how the crown is removed from your mouth, it will have any removal holes or spots repaired with composite material that bonds to the old crown so it's as good as new.

Dentists have done many of these under-crown repairs

Your dental office has seen many patients with cavities at the bases of their crowns. The staff won't be shocked or disappointed if you show up with this problem. They know you're human and that few people are perfect dental patients. They also know that older patients may have trouble with oral care or may have diets that predispose their teeth to cavities. 

If you're experiencing pain under your crowns, or you can see that there is decay under your crowns, don't wait until it gets unbearably painful or your crown fails. Make an appointment with your dentist's office to discuss the options for repair as soon as you can. You'll save yourself from future toothaches and perhaps save your crowns at the same time.