If you have received a dental crown, you may wonder about its longevity and when you’ll need a replacement. The longevity of your dental crown depends on your oral hygiene practices, diet, location in your mouth, and regular dental cleanings.
Dental Crowns: How Long Do They Last?
A dental crown has an average lifespan of over 10 years. The longevity of a dental crown can vary based on the material. You and your dentist can decide which crown is best suited to your needs based on strength and durability. At Steger Smiles Family Dentistry, we offer metal and porcelain crowns to restore your smile.
- Porcelain-fused-t0-metal or PFM dental crowns: This type of dental crown is made from porcelain and metal alloy. It typically lasts 5 to 15 years.
- Metal dental crowns: Metals such as gold, palladium, nickel, and chromium can be used to make dental crowns. There is a 95% survival rate for gold dental crowns over 10 years.
- All-ceramic crowns: The ceramic in dental crowns can be customized to match your tooth enamel’s shade. These crowns can last from 5 to 10 years.
- Zirconia dental crowns: Crowns made of zirconium dioxide are extremely durable and shatterproof. These crowns can last from 10 to 15 years.
How to Extend the Lifespan of your Dental Crowns
To ensure your crowns last for as long as possible, there are some steps you can take to maintain them.
Practice good hygiene
Your original tooth is still exposed under your crown and can decay at the gum line. Use a toothbrush with a soft bristle and tilt it at a 45-degree angle to prevent decay. Brushing at this angle ensures the bristles clean your crown and natural teeth.
Don’t grind your teeth
The habit of grinding and clenching your teeth is referred to as bruxism. It weakens your teeth by wearing them down. Bruxism can also wear down or damage dental crowns. A night guard can protect your crown and the health of your other teeth if you have bruxism.
Avoid hard and sticky foods
If possible, avoid chewing at the site of your crown when consuming sticky foods such as caramel and taffy. Also, hard snacks such as almonds and pretzels can chip the crown. They may cause your crown to bend and break.
Eat popcorn carefully to avoid kernels, and do not bite on ice. Ice is cold and hard, increasing the risk of chipping away at the surface of your crown and fracturing it.
Schedule an emergency visit if needed
Over time, you may experience concerns about your dental crown. Your crown may chip accidentally from biting on hard food. It is possible for the cement keeping the crown in place to wash out and loosen the crown. You risk further damage to the tooth and gum line surrounding your crown if you delay repairs.
Book an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible if your crown falls out. Depending on the condition of the crown, the dentist may be able to re-cement the crown. You might need a new crown if the dentist cannot restore the original.
Visit your dentist for regular cleanings
A routine cleaning and examination every six months is necessary to ensure your gums remain healthy and your dental crowns are functioning properly. The dentist checks the crowns’ stability and if your crowns are still firmly attached to your teeth. If a crown is loose, your dentist can adjust it.
Maintain a Long-Lasting Dental Crown With Steger Smiles
Having a crown placed on your smile can restore its health and beauty. The benefits of your dental crown can last for many years if you take good care of it.
Call Steger Smiles to schedule a dental consultation and learn how to care for your dental restorations like crowns properly.