“Can a crown cause gum irritation?”

Yes if you have metal allergy

A dental crown can cause gum irritation under certain circumstances.

In the first circumstance, if the edge of the crown (whether gold, cast metal, porcelain or zirconia) finishes or terminates too far under the gums, you may experience chronic inflammation, soreness and possibly bleeding.

This can also happen if the crown is poorly adapted to your tooth. For example, if the transition between the crown and natural tooth structure is not smooth (i.e. the crown forms a ledge hanging out over the gums), you'll trap more dental plaque against the gums. Typically, this will also cause gum inflammation and bleeding.

Lastly, there may be nickel or other metals in a crown alloy and some individuals might experience a chronic allergic reaction to these metals. This can result in gum inflammation or a persistent "itchy" sensation.

An ill-fitted crown with margins that do not fit in a crown that is over-contoured will cause gum irritation.

Temporary crowns are a common cause of soft tissue irritation because of the rough nature of the material used. If your permanent crown has been seated for more than a couple days and the irritation is just now occurring it could be due to a deep margin. The bone wants to be 2.6 mm from any foreign material, be it filling material, a buildup or crown. If the cause of the crown- decay/fracture got close to the bone level your dentist may have had to bring the margin of the crown too close to the bone. This type of inflammatory response can be quite uncomfortable and last for months. If the soft tissue irritation does not resolve in 1 week you should return to the dentist for an evaluation, in the mean time warm salt water rinses can help to expedite healing.

Yes if the margins of the crown or it’s contour aren’t perfect.
Thanks
Dr Mansour

There could be several reasons for gums to be irritated around a crown. Most often it's because the hygiene is not up to par. The crown is something different and sometimes needs more attention from the toothbrush and dental floss/interdental cleaner. Sometimes the crown preparation has to go a little too far down beneath the gums, so the crown now goes down there and irritates the base of the pocket. Occasionally, the crown is too big. And rarely, the patient is allergic to the crown material. Check with your dentist.