One of the most common questions patients have before receiving a dental crown, or a dental cap, is, “how long will my dental crown last?” There are a lot of factors that play into the overall durability and longevity of your crown. Materials used, your oral hygiene, and wear and tear can all decide whether your crown lasts 5 years or 15 years. Here are some things to consider when choosing and caring for your dental crown:
Materials make a difference
The primary function of a dental cap is to correct or protect broken, weakened, missing, or deformed and misaligned teeth. Because a cap needs to function as a normal tooth, it’s important to choose a material that is as strong (or stronger) than your natural tooth. Some dentists choose to have crowns made out of metal, porcelain, or a mixture of the two, fusing porcelain to metal.
At LI Implant & Cosmetic Dentistry, we opt for an even stronger, more innovative process and material. All of our dental caps are constructed out of a solid block of ceramic or resin, making it a natural-looking replacement that is stronger and more durable than its porcelain counterpart. We also create all of our dental caps in-office using a CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) machine. This allows us to create affordable crowns the same day, avoiding multiple office visits, lengthy wait times, and the cost and care of temporary replacements.
Oral hygiene is important
Permanent dental caps can be cared for much in the same way as your normal teeth. Regular brushing and flossing keeps your new tooth clean and prevents any build-up of bacteria that can damage surrounding teeth or possibly seep its way underneath your crown. It’s also very important to keep up on regular dental visits. Not only will the cleanings keep your crown in good shape, but your dentist may also be able to identify small issues before they become larger, costlier problems. If you feel any pain while chewing or biting down, it could be a sign that your cap has become fractured, or infected. You should visit your dentist immediately to have it corrected.
Bad habits can increase fractures
Solid block ceramic or resin dental caps have been shown to last for 9-17 years. However, reaching the higher end of this scale depends greatly on the wear and tear your tooth endures. Back teeth are most susceptible to damage, as they as they are responsible for almost all of our chewing and naturally take on more work than front teeth. Other habits, such as clenching, grinding, chomping on ice, biting fingernails, chewing on non-edible objects (such as pens), or using your teeth to open packages can all create extra wear and tear on your dental cap and increase your chances of a fracture.
Choosing the right dental office
At LI Implant & Cosmetic Dentistry, we utilize innovative technology, durable materials, and experienced staff to ensure our patients leave with smiles that will last for many years to come. Questions about getting dental crowns on Long Island? Schedule a one-on-one consultation with our Rocky Point or Huntington dental offices today to see what we can do for your smile.
Additional resources:
- CEREC, https://my.cerec.com/en-us.html
- WebMD, Dental Crowns, https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/dental-crowns#1
