A dental crown, known also as a dental cap is a piece of artificial restoration, used to cover an existing tooth, giving the tooth a natural shape. Dentists use dental crowns to strengthen weakened teeth or to restore broken teeth. Using dental crowns, dentists can change the colour and the shape of the teeth and create a beautiful aesthetic effect. A well-crafted dental crown is designed to seamlessly blend in with natural teeth. The blending is so natural that patients with dental crowns just forget that they have them. This makes them surprised to realize just how long their crowns have lasted.

However, even the most durable restorations wear out eventually. It’s best to take good care of the restoration while keeping an eye out for warning signs of breakage that means replacement is due. This is because repeated cosmetic or restorative dentistry can traumatize a tooth that’s already seen work done. Therefore it is good to be informed on the exact lifespan of the dental crown and exactly when a replacement might be due.

What Are Dental Crowns Made Of?

Dental Crowns can be made out of various materials, including different metals, gold and porcelain.
Porcelain dental crowns have a more natural appearance when compared to crowns made of gold or other metals. Porcelain dental crowns tend to last longer than crowns made from other materials, because porcelain has a solid chemical bonding with tooth enamel, making the tooth stronger.

What Is The General Lifetime Of A Dental Crown?

A dental crown is usually thicker than two millimetres or more. It is durable, and is guaranteed to last several years, especially when you take good care of it. Usually, your dentist will tell you exactly how long your dental crown will last you. In general, dental crowns can last anywhere from 5 to 15 years. Some crowns last for up to 30 years in some cases. The number of years a dental crown lasts depends on the material used, the care you take and the dentist’s expertise. It also depends on the amount of wear and tear to which the crown is exposed, accidental trauma, chewing and biting forces, tooth grinding and so on.

How to Increase Your Dental Crown’s Lifespan

If you happen to bite your fingernails, chew on ice or open plastic packaging with your teeth, you’ll end up applying excessive pressure on your dental crown. If you want to increase your crown’s lifespan, it’s best not to use your teeth as generic tools. Poor dental hygiene can put a dental crown at risk as well; so daily brushing and flossing are a must if you want your crown to last long. Inadequate and improper brushing and flossing can cause decay to form underneath the crown, causing the need for a root canal and a definite crown replacement. As you can see, your dental crown can last indefinitely depending on how well you take care of these aspects. Dental insurance plans tend to stipulate that they’ll pay for dental crown replacement only after the previous crown has provided at least 5 years of service. 5 years then is the absolute minimum guarantee.

What Are The Reasons For Dental Crown Replacement?

There are several reasons why a specific dental crown gets slated for replacement. Here are some of them:

• Ceramic and Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM) crowns can crack up or break over time. Dental crowns can break, especially the porcelain component. When cracking or breaking begins, the full thickness of the ceramic is put at risk. No repair is possible at that stage; the remainder of the restoration just breaks free and decay can form underneath it.

• There are cases where holes form due to excessive wear in metal and PFM crowns. It’s rare to see an all-metal dental crown experience a fracture, even if it’s worn excessively.

• Crowns can deteriorate if there are complications with tooth decay. In this case, almost all types of dental crowns are at risk.

Conclusion

Extend your crown’s lifespan by practicing good dental hygiene. Take extra care where the crown meets the gum line. Do not bite on hard objects that can damage both your natural teeth as well as crowns. If you happen to suffer from night tooth-grinding, wear a night guard. At every dental appointment, be sure to get your crown checked for cracks, decay other any other issues.

Want to know more about Dental Crowns? Visit our Livonia Dentist Office or Call us at (734) 522-5520 to schedule your free initial consultation.