You probably feel pretty good about things if you’ve just gotten a dental crown. After all, the prosthetic protects your tooth from decay and helps it look nicer. Still, keep in mind that it won’t last forever. If you’re not careful, the crown could even fail earlier than expected. That said, you’ll want to extend the dental crown lifespan to its maximum. Luckily, your New Braunfels dentist can help. Read on to learn about dental crowns’ average lifespan, the risks of their failure, and some crown care tips.
How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?
In general, porcelain crowns work for an average of five to fifteen years. However long your own last, though, will depend on your lifestyle and mouth-related habits. Natural wear and tear will cause crowns to fail eventually, but your actions could accelerate that process.
On the other hand, well-kept dental crowns can last 25 to 30 years. However, this only applies when the underlying tooth is healthy and robust. Otherwise, your dentist may need to remove the crown to treat tooth decay.
What Happens When One Fails?
If your crown wears out and suffers a crack or chip, you should replace it at once. Leaving this damaged cap in your mouth raises the risk of tooth decay and cavities. Left untreated, such things could even lead to a tooth infection. Should that happen, you may require a root canal treatment.
Dental Crown Care Tips
Luckily, the right habits can help you extend the lifespan of your crown. Consider the following:
- Don’t Bite Hard Things: Doing things like biting your fingernails, hard candy, or ice would damage your crowns. Even worse, they’d likely harm your natural teeth too.
- Avoid Teeth-Grinding: Grinding your teeth will cause your porcelain crowns to crack or chip. If you tend to do it in your sleep, use a custom mouthguard for protection.
- Practice Good Oral Hygiene: Along with the rest of your pearly whites, brush your crowned tooth twice daily, floss it once daily, and rinse it with mouthwash.
- See Your Dentist Often: Visit your dentist every six months for checkups and cleanings. They’ll let you know if your crown(s) shows signs of cavities, gaps, trauma, or decay.
A dental crown ought to stick around as long as possible. That said, remember the tips above so your cap can improve your smile for many years to come.
About the Practice
Gruene Family Dental is based in New Braunfels, TX. As led by Drs. Kim Turnbow and Jamie Knox, the practice strives to meet patient needs. Therefore, it offers customized treatments spanning preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry. When needed, the staff can also perform dental sedation and emergency procedures. Needless to say, you can trust the Gruene Family team! For more information or to book an appointment, you can reach them on their website or by phone at (830)-626-1111.