Summary

Dental crowns are customized oral caps placed over your teeth. They are designed to protect and cover weakened or damaged teeth. They are also known for restoring the strength, shape, and appearance of the tooth. 

They are often used after root canals, large fillings, or dental injuries and are thus among the most common treatment plans in restorative dentistry. Although these crowns are built to be strong and long-lasting, serving 10-15 years with proper care, studies show that proper oral hygiene and regular dental visits can extend their lifespan by nearly 50%.

Our experienced team at Gentle Dentistry of Las Colinas in Irving, TX, believes that protecting your dental crown starts with simple daily habits and professional guidance. In this article, we will explore:

• Understanding Dental Crowns and Their Purpose
• Factors That Affect the Longevity of Dental Crowns
• Daily Care Tips to Extend the Life of Your Crown

Continue reading as we learn more about dental crowns in the following sections. 

Understanding Dental Crowns and Their Purpose

Dental crowns in Las Colinas are custom-made cap that fits perfectly over your damaged tooth. They help to restore its shape, appearance, and strength. When a tooth is too damaged or weakened to be repaired with a small filling, crowns come to the rescue. 

Common materials used for crowns include:

• Porcelain or Ceramic: They blend seamlessly and look natural, thus ideal for your front teeth.
• Metal (like gold or alloys): It is known for exceptional durability and strength.
• Zirconia: Crowns made with Zirconia have become a popular modern choice, as they offer both strength and a natural look.

Key Benefits:

• Restores function: Helps you chew and speak comfortably again.
• Enhances appearance: Gives your smile a natural, polished look.
• Protects the tooth: Shields it from further damage or decay.

A well-maintained crown, with proper oral care and regular dental checkups, can usually last 10 to 15 years or longer. They also help you to keep your smile strong and confident for years to come. 

Factors That Affect the Longevity of Dental Crowns

How long your dental crowns serve you depends on many factors. Therefore, to keep your smile great for many years and to protect your restoration, understanding these factors is essential.

1. Type of Material Used

The material with which the crown is made plays a big role in durability. 

• Porcelain crowns look natural but may wear faster if you grind your teeth.
• Metal crowns are extremely strong and ideal for back teeth.
• Zirconia crowns offer a perfect mix of strength and aesthetics.

2. Oral Hygiene Habits

By regular brushing and flossing your teeth, you can keep your gums healthy and prevent any further decay around the edge of the crown. In fact, the bond between the tooth and the crown can weaken due to poor hygiene. 

3. Lifestyle Choices

Certain lifestyle choices or unhealthy habits, such as smoking, teeth grinding, or eating lots of sticky or hard foods, can shorten the lifespan of your crowns. Thus, maintaining a healthy, balanced diet and using a mouthguard can help in such cases.

4. Everyday Dental Habits

You should avoid biting your nails, chewing ice, or even using your teeth to open or tear packages. This can cause a chipped or loosened crown.

5. Regular Dental Check-ups

Your dentist can detect early wear or damage in your teeth through regular dental visits. It helps to fix small issues before they become serious and threatening. 

Daily Care Tips to Extend the Life of Your Crown

It is not necessary that caring for your dental crown be complicated or require a lot of effort on your part. It is basically all about gentle habits with consistency. Given below are some of the practical and expert care tips from Gentle Dentistry of Las Colinas that will help your crown to stay beautiful and strong for years. 

1. Brush Gently, Twice a Day

To clean your teeth without scratching the crown’s surface, use a soft-bristle toothbrush and a non-abrasive toothpaste. Use a gentle circular motion to remove plaque while keeping your gums healthy; this is the most effective method. 

2. Floss Carefully Around the Crown

Like brushing, flossing is also an important step to maintain your oral hygiene. The simplest way to floss is to slide the floss gently between your teeth, but be careful not to pull it too hard. If done wrong, it can loosen the crown fitting over time. Always pay extra attention to the gumline, where plaque tends to accumulate. 

3. Add a Fluoride Mouthwash

To protect the crown edges from decay and strengthen them, rinse your mouth with a fluoride-based mouthwash. This is a simple, easy way to give your smile an added layer of defense. 

4. Eat Smart

Eating the correct diet with a crown is very important. Avoid eating sticky, acidic, or hard foods. They can wear down or loosen your crown. Instead of these items, you can stick to a healthy, balanced diet that is rich in fruits, calcium, and vegetables, which will be great for your overall health.

5. Stay Consistent

Daily and mindful care of your dental crowns is the secret to a long-lasting crown. You can keep your crown in the best possible condition with small, steady habits that will help it look and feel as natural as the day it was placed.

Protecting Your Dental Crown from Damage

It is necessary to take good care of your dental crowns to ensure they last for many years. A few simple daily habits and mindful choices can go a long way toward protecting your crown from loosening, chipping, and cracking. 

Avoid Hard or Sticky Foods

It is important to avoid biting down on hard objects such as pens, ice, or popcorn kernels. This is because they can easily damage your crown. Also, sticky foods like caramel or taffy can pull the crown loose over time. 

Protect Against Grinding and Sports Injuries

Wearing a custom nightguard at night can help prevent unnecessary cracking and pressure if a person suffers from bruxism (a condition in which the person tends to grind their teeth). Also, a mouthguard is a must for those who play contact sports to shield their mouth and crowns from sudden impacts and jolts. 

Takeaway

• Consistent oral hygiene and regular dental checkups are the foundation for a long-lasting crown.
• Avoid hard, sticky foods and harmful habits, such as teeth grinding, to prevent crown damage.
• Gentle daily care (brushing, flossing, and using fluoride mouthwash) keeps your crown strong and your smile healthy.
• Ready to make a difference with your smile? Connect with our experts at Gentle Dentistry of Las Colinas today!