Dental crowns are used with dental bridges and implants to replace missing teeth. They can also be placed over teeth that have become weakened through trauma, infection, or severe decay, helping to prevent additional damage and the risk of tooth loss.
Dental crowns may last ten years or more depending on factors including material and your oral hygiene routine. Tooth-colored options, such as porcelain, ceramic, and zirconia, typically last for five to fifteen years. Gold crowns may last for 30 years or more. Metal alloy crowns and porcelain-fused-to-metal options can last more than 20 years.
Things that will impact the strength and durability of your dental crowns include:
- Daily Care
- Routine Dental Visits
- Bruxism (tooth grinding)
- Chewing Non-Food Items
- Improper Use of Teeth
You can help protect your crowns from unnecessary damage by not biting or chewing hard or non-edible items, using an occlusal guard to treat bruxism, and ensuring your at-home routine is optimized. Routine dental visits can also help protect your dental crowns from damage while allowing our dentists to determine when it is best to replace crowns that have become dingy, damaged, or ineffective.
Good daily care includes brushing at least twice (preferably after every meal) and flossing at least once (preferably twice) a day. Depending on the type of crowns you have, using a non-abrasive toothbrush may be best. In addition, it is always a good idea to use a soft-bristled toothbrush. These steps can help prevent scratching or damaging natural enamel and dental crowns and will do more for your oral health.
Can Decay Develop Below a Dental Crown?
Yes, decay can develop underneath a dental crown. This is one of the most compelling reasons to maintain a consistent daily care routine.
During your routine visits, we will check for the presence of decay to help guard against problems. If you take care of your dental crowns, you don’t have much to worry about, though annual x-rays are still needed to ensure that problems are treated before they become serious. We can discuss this in greater detail the next time you visit our office.
Please call The Smile Centre at 941-351-4468 today to schedule your next visit. Located in Sarasota, we serve patients from all nearby areas of Florida.