Dental crowns cover and support weak, damaged, misshapen, discoloured, worn, or vulnerable teeth. They also support, seal, and protect teeth that have been treated with root canal therapy to eliminate potential reinfections and to restore any strength lost due to having undergone surgery. Dental crowns in West Edmonton also cover dental implants and hold some types of dental bridges in place so that they can replace missing teeth.
How long do crowns last?
Well-maintained dental crowns will last for over a decade, and even for 15 or 20 years. One of the most important things to keep in mind when considering the lifespan of crowns is that each crown covers a natural tooth that is held in your jaw by a natural tooth root that is sealed up by natural gum tissue. Why are we hitting that point so hard? The key point to remember is this. To a very large extent, the structural integrity of your dental crown will depend on the health of your tooth and gums. Here are four important steps to follow to sustain and prolong the lifespan of dental crowns near you.
Keep your teeth and gums healthy
To sustain and prolong the lifespan of your porcelain dental crowns, brush your teeth at least twice daily for two minutes each time. Don’t stop at brushing, but also floss around and between each tooth — including the tooth that is covered with the crown — every day. Regular brushing and flossing will prevent bacteria and plaque from accumulating around your gums sealing your “crowned” tooth. Beyond even brushing and flossing, you should attend your dental check-ups regularly every six months. Your dentist in West Edmonton will inspect the condition of your crowns and address any issues that might threaten their lifespan as quickly as possible.
Don’t chew and bite hard objects
Porcelain is a highly durable substance but is vulnerable to damage and to breaking if abused. Some of the most harmful forms of abuse include: biting your fingernails and pencils, chewing ice, chewing pen caps, and using your teeth as if they were clamps, vices, or pliers to hold, twist, tear, or break packages or substances of any kind. All those activities will prematurely threaten the potential lifespan of your dental crown.
Wear mouth and night guards
Teeth and dental restorations are well-designed to withstand normal pressures imposed by eating and chewing that can be much greater than you might think. Even healthy teeth and well-designed and well-maintained crowns, though, are vulnerable to damage in two extreme situations: sporting collisions, grinding your teeth and clenching your jaw. All three of those scenarios can cause damage to porcelain crowns. To protect your teeth and crowns from damage during sports or while you sleep if you suffer from sleep bruxism, ask your dentist in West Edmonton to provide you with a custom mouth guard or night guard. Yes, teeth guards can be purchased from stores and online, but you should not rely on retail or online purchases for health protection. Instead ask a dentist near you to prepare a custom guard for you after carefully assessing your teeth and jaw, and the condition of any dental work.
Dental crowns are one of the most versatile dental restorations that a dentist can provide to solve an enormous number of cosmetic, restorative, and functional dental issues. Once you’ve gone through all the effort and to all the expense of obtaining dental crowns, the last thing you want to have to do is replace those crowns any earlier than absolutely necessary. By following these instructions carefully, you can be sure to receive the benefit of your crowns for a couple of decades.