Tips to Help Crowns Last as Long as Possible

Typically, when a patient goes to a dentist and they have a dental crown or crown(s) put in, they may hear the crown referred to as a “permanent crown.”  This statement can be a bit misleading to some patients, as they then think the “permanent” crown is going to last “forever.”  However, that is rarely the case.  To be honest, a permanent crown is called that to help distinguish it from a “temporary” crown, in fact, a temporary crown is placed over the tooth to protect the tooth until the permanent one can be placed.  We thought it would be helpful to give you some idea of how long a crown should last – and steps that can be taken to extend the life span for as long as you can.

Tips for Extending the Life of Your Permanent Crown Restoration

Just because the crown is durable and strong does not mean that nothing can happen to it – precautions still need to be taken.  So, here are some tried and true tips to keep your crown from any damage and in proper shape for years to come.

• Maintaining well practiced oral hygiene is essential. Brushing and flossing daily and throughout the day is key.  Remember that a crown is a covering for your natural tooth, which can still decay and be prone to gum disease.  You must keep you gums healthy for a crown to last.
• Regular visits to the dental office must be maintained, ideally, every 6 months. These regular checkups allow us to see if there are any unusual signs of damage or decay.  If there should be any damage or decay, the key is to act upon it right away.  If we act quickly enough, the crown can be saved rather than be replaced.
• Wearing a night guard or mouth guard (custom fitted by our dental professionals). A standard guard protects you from grinding or clenching teeth and damage caused by playing sports and other related activities.  The night guard is only worn at night and helps prevents your upper and lower teeth from touching thus keeping your upper and lower teeth from grinding on each other through the night while you sleep.  A mouthguard should be worn during any rough housing or sports play of any sort.

Now, just to cover all the bases here are just a few “Do Nots” to help extend the life of your crown:

• No using your teeth as a bottle opener
• No biting or chewing your fingernails
• No chewing on ice – ever – or bite down on hard candy.

If you have any questions or concerns about caring for your dental crown restorations, please call the experts at Holman Family Dentistry.  We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have and schedule you for a consultation to discuss your dental crown restoration care or procedures.  Call: 479.795.1101. We look forward to hearing from you.

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