How Long Will a Dental Crown Last?

Dental crowns are highly effective for anyone who requires tooth restoration, even when the tooth is severely damaged. These durable dental crowns blend seamlessly with your natural teeth and can last you for many years to come with proper care. 

Read on to find out exactly how to best care for your new dental crown so you can keep smiling for years to come.

How Often Do Crowns Need to Be Replaced?

In general, a dental crown can last between five to 15 years, sometimes even longer with excellent care and maintenance. With the proper home care, crowns have the potential to last you a lifetime, all depending on the amount of stress the crown is exposed to and a person's oral hygiene habits. 

The most common reasons a dental crown fails before its time and requires replacement are:

• Chips or cracks from grinding or clenching teeth
• Biting your fingernails
• Chewing on ice 
• Eating hard candies
• Using teeth as tools to open plastic packages or other items
• Poor oral hygiene habits that lead to the tooth underneath the crown decaying

Schedule Bi-Annual Dental Exams 

Seeing your dentist regularly, at least twice a year, will help keep a closer set of eyes on your crown, and we will watch for any signs of decay, damage, or bite issues that you may be experiencing without even realizing. 

Take Care of Dental Restorations at Home 

Although a crowned tooth doesn't require any special care, it does need to be protected from damage and decay, just like the other natural teeth in your mouth. To keep your crown in the best shape possible, you should:

• Practice good oral hygiene habits by brushing your teeth a minimum of twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and flossing once a day to prevent the tooth underneath the crown or other surrounding teeth from decaying. 
• Avoid biting on hard objects like candies and other non-food items that can damage your crown along with your other natural teeth.
• Invest in a night guard to prevent a chipped or cracked crown from clenching or grinding your teeth at night. 
• Give special attention to the area where the crown meets your gum line when brushing your teeth to keep the gums clean and free of bacteria that can lead to gingivitis. 

Signs a Crown Should Be Replaced 

A dental crown has the potential to last you a lifetime with consistent good oral hygiene. However, regular professional dental cleanings and regular dental checkups are necessary so your dentist can look for any signs that a crown may need to be soon replaced. 

Common signs your crown may need to be replaced include:

• The gum tissue around the crown is receding, and a dark margin appears along the crown's gum line.
• Excessive wear on the crown from biting, chewing, or grinding.
• The crown has become cracked or chipped.
• Tooth decay has occurred on the tooth underneath the crown and requires treatment.
• Gum tissue has become infected at the base of the crown.
• The crown has become loose.
• The crown has separated from the tooth entirely.

Is a Dental Crown the Best Treatment Option For You?

If you have concerns about an existing dental crown, Tompkins Dental can examine you and provide you with the guidance you need to determine if the crown needs to be replaced or is a concern at all. If you ever notice that your crown is broken, chipped, cracked, or is causing you pain and discomfort, our staff is here to help, even if another dentist initially placed the crown.