How long do dental crowns last?
The average lifespan of a dental crown is around 15 years. However, with a good installation and proper oral care, they can last upwards of 25-30 years. There are many factors that can affect the longevity of your tooth crown, including your oral hygiene habits, things you eat, and if you have habits like teeth grinding.
Note: The average lifespan of dental crowns on front teeth is the same as other teeth. It’s a common misconception that front teeth crowns don’t last as long as rear crowns.
How to Extend the Life of Your Dental Crown
As we said before, dental crowns tend to last for 25-30 years. There are, however, a few ways you can extend the life of your dental crown (yay!!).
To do this, you’ll need to take extra good care of your teeth. Here’s what we recommend you do (and don’t do):
- Practice good hygiene! You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again – brush your teeth at least two times a day! And please, for the sake of yourself, your dental crown, and others – floss your teeth! We’ll be the ones to tell you that when food gets stuck in between your teeth, it smells rancid. Not to mention, if you don’t floss you may end up getting cavities or gum disease! Oral care is important, people!
- Visit your dentist for regular cleanings & checkups. This one is pretty self-explanatory. Your dentist can clean your teeth (and gums) a lot more thoroughly than you can at home. They’ll also be able to point out any imperfections in your mouth (such as small cavities or an infection).
- Stay away from hard things. Or, please try to! Chewing on ice, biting your fingernails, eating a lot of candy, chewing gum… all of these things can damage not only your dental crown but your actual teeth too!
- Try not to grind your teeth. This is, quite possibly, the worst habit you could have. Grinding your teeth can lead to breakage and hardcore chips in your dental crown.
How Do You Know When a Crown Needs to Be Replaced?
Here are my two cents… if you think you need a crown replacement, you probably do.
The onset of pain, sensitivity, or uncomfortable feelings can be a sign that there’s something wrong with your crown (especially if you’re feeling this years after getting your crown).
A few other signs you need to look out for when it comes down to replacing a crown are:
- Chips in the dental crown
- Large breakages on the dental crown
- Decay under the crown (caused by bacteria at the margin)
Pro Tip: We wanted to point out that porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns are a type of dental crown that are subject to chipping and breaking over time – they’re still great crowns, but they’re not always the most reliable as a long-term solution especially if you chew ice or grind your teeth.
What Do You Do If Your Crown Becomes Loose/Falls Off?
Panic!!
No, just kidding – we do recommend you find the crown (you know, as long as you didn’t accidentally swallow it) and call your dentist.
Truthfully, it’s not a huge earth-shattering deal if your crown falls off. You may feel sensitivity when you drink/eat, and you’ll definitely feel uncomfortable (there’s now a large gap in between two teeth).
As long as you stay calm, alert your dentist, and get another dental crown within a few days, you’ll be good as new!
More Questions?
If you think you may need a dental crown, please give us a call to schedule your consultation.
We also have a complete guide to dental crowns that answers many common questions and explains what dental crowns are made of, how much they cost, how to care for a dental crown, and more.
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