Many people have teeth that have been damaged by injury or decay, and dental crowns can be a fantastic way to help compromised pearly whites remain healthy and functional for decades. However, crowns are not designed to be permanent and will eventually need to be replaced. Here’s a quick look at how dental crowns work, how long they can last, and how you can keep your device in great shape for as long as possible.
What Is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a restoration designed to replace tooth structure lost due to enamel or injury or even to reshape a tooth that was simply stubby or oddly shaped to begin with. The process of placing a dental crown always begins with the patient receiving an appropriate anesthetic before their dentist removes the compromised enamel and fits the tooth for a customized restoration. Once fixed on the tooth, the crown will function in the place of the lost enamel, allowing it to restore the patient’s chewing ability and protect the tooth from infection and injury.
Can I Keep My Dental Crown in Great Shape?
Dental crowns can last up to fifteen years if they receive excellent care, but neglecting to maintain your appliance may lead to it needing replacement much sooner than that. Your dentist will be happy to provide you with a detailed set of instructions as to how to keep your restorations healthy, and these will probably include items like:
- Practicing excellent oral hygiene: Be sure to brush, floss, and rinse with antibacterial mouthwash every day to eliminate harmful bacteria and food debris. Take special care to clean along the seam between your crown and your enamel since it can be easy for plaque to develop there.
- Making smart eating decisions: Limiting your intake of sugar and acid will deprive the harmful bacteria in your mouth of the fuel they need to multiply and cause infections and protect the cement holding your crown in place from erosion.
- Being mindful when chewing: Take special care when chewing with the tooth wearing a crown to avoid unnecessary stress that may work the device loose.
- Kicking bad oral habits: Abstaining from tobacco, excessive alcohol use, using your teeth to open packaging, and chewing on nonfood materials like ice, wood, plastic, and fingernails will help prevent all sorts of damage to your teeth and crowns.
Taking great care of your crowns can help you keep your smile healthy while avoiding the need for frequent replacements. Consulting with your dentist can help you understand how to protect your oral health.
About the Author
Dr. Tarangini Suggala earned her dental degree at the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. She keeps her skills current by frequently participating in continuing education coursework and is a certified Invisalign provider. Her office in Carrollton offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as dental crown services. To learn more about dental crown care, contact her office online or dial (972) 446-1111.