Dental crowns are one of the most popular forms of dental work due to the incredible variety of things that they’re capable of. Whether you need to repair a cavity, finish a root canal, or fix a cosmetic issue, this single treatment can help you!
However, dental crowns don’t last forever. If you’re wondering whether yours could need replacement, here are some signs you may want to watch out for.
How to Know When Dental Crowns Are Ready to Replace
Ideally, you should replace your dental crowns before they fail or fall off. To do that, you should be vigilant for any signs that your dental crown could be coming loose.
This might feel a lot like what you were feeling when you needed the dental crown in the first place—sensitivity in the tooth, especially when eating or drinking. You might also be able to move the dental crown around or feel it wiggle slightly when you touch it with your tongue.
Your dentist will be enormously helpful in being able to determine when your dental crown is on its last legs, so seeing them often if you have this kind of restoration is even more important than usual.
How Long Can I Expect My Dental Crown to Last?
It’s also a smart idea to start looking for signs of failure toward the end of its expected lifespan. Dental crowns can be made of a wide variety of materials, and the time you can expect them to last is heavily dependent on what they’re made of.
For the most part, dental crowns will last somewhere between 10-20 years if you maintain them well. Porcelain and porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns will tend to fail on the earlier end of that, while metal crowns will last longer.
How to Help Your Crowns Last
If you want your dental crowns to stick around, you should take care to ensure that you don’t wind up dealing with any additional tooth decay. You should brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily to break up plaque deposits, clearing out any bacterial infection.
About the Author
Dr. Shue Her has been a dentist for over a decade, and he never tires of meeting new patients who come into his office. No matter who he meets, he can always find something in common with his patients. Dr. Her received his doctorate from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, and since then has received advanced training from some of the most respected dentists in the country.
If you have any questions about dental crowns, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (770) 536-6688.