A dental crown is a cover or cap that a dentist places over your tooth for cosmetic or restorative purposes. The dental crown restores your tooth’s shape, size, and functionality, and it can also cover up aesthetic deformities such as discoloration, stains, and crookedness. If you’re getting a dental crown to save a tooth, or after a root canal, you shouldn’t delay the procedure because that may further compromise the tooth’s structural integrity.
To attach a dental crown, the dentist first prepares your tooth by shaving the outer layers of the tooth down to a stub. Thus, once you’ve got a dental crown, you can’t go back. Considering the irreversibility of the procedure, most patients are concerned about their dental crown’s longevity. In this article, we discuss the longevity of dental crowns and how you can extend your dental crown’s lifespan.
What is the lifespan of a dental crown?
The average lifespan of dental crowns is 15 years. However, if you properly take care of them, you can make your dental crown last 25 to 30 years. Several factors affect a dental crown’s lifespan, including teeth grinding, oral hygiene habits, and the materials the dental crown is made of.
How can I extend my dental crown’s total lifespan?
- Avoid Teeth Clenching
Grinding or clenching your teeth can severely affect all of your teeth, including your dental crowns. If you continue grinding your teeth, your dental crown will eventually develop cracks. Thus, if you have a habit of clenching and grinding your teeth, make a conscious attempt to stop.
- Wear a Nightguard
Some people can’t help grinding and clenching their teeth, especially at night. If you suffer from bruxism, a condition that makes your incessantly (and usually unknowingly) grind your teeth, you should start wearing a nightguard. Instead of purchasing an over-the-counter night guard, we can provide you a custom-fit nightguard that provides optimal protection to all your teeth, including your dental crown(s).
- Oral Hygiene
Observe optimal oral hygiene habits, including brushing twice daily, flossing regularly, rinsing your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash, and going for regular dental checkups and teeth cleaning.
If you don’t follow optimal oral hygiene habits, you could eventually suffer from dental decay under the crown. Over time, the decay may affect your crown, corrupting it from within.
- Professional Teeth Cleaning
Go for dental checkups and professional teeth cleaning at least twice yearly. During dental checkups, the dentist examines your teeth and gums for signs of gum disease and decay. If there’s any problem, address it at the earliest stage possible.
So, how long do dental crowns last? Anywhere from 15 to 30 years and the above simple suggestions should help them “last a lifetime.” Observing all of the tips given above, you can make your dental crown last even longer.