Exercising and maintaining proper dental hygiene at home is an ongoing commitment, and with simple lapses in your daily habits damaging plaque will immediately build up. If you do not have the decay removed and the tooth treated with a filling, it will progressively worsen such that a dental crown might now be necessary.
There are other situations when your dentist might recommend a crown, such as damage from an accident, playing in a contact sport, or simply falling.
What are Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are popular and common in dentistry, and they are much like a cap that fits snugly over the tooth. Dental fillings quickly solve many problems, and with issues they cannot correct, dental crowns might be the next option recommended.
The easiest way to describe a dental crown is that it is a custom cap for your tooth. The crown fits tightly over the entire damaged tooth and is designed to match the shape of the natural tooth. Crowns will provide several benefits, such as improving your teeth:
- Natural strength and functionality.
- Appearance.
- Original size and natural shape.
To begin, a crown requires an impression made of the original tooth. The impression is then sent to a dental lab that specializes in custom fabrication of the crown, but your dentist could have the ability to make your crown in-house.
While you wait for your permanent custom crown, a temporary crown is placed on the tooth for protection. When your crown is completed, the dentist removes the temporary crown, making sure the custom crown fits properly, and then cements it permanently in place. The crown covers the entire visible part of the tooth.
When Do You Need a Dental Crown?
If decay has advanced to the point where a root canal is now necessary, a crown is quite often placed to strengthen the tooth’s structural integrity. There are a variety of reasons why you may need a crown, including:
- Severe tooth damage.
- A broken tooth.
- Tooth cracks and chips.
- A misshapen tooth.
- To attach a traditional bridge to the neighboring teeth.
You may also need a crown for cosmetic reasons, such as if a tooth is discolored, or for the completion of a dental implant.
How Long Do Ceramic Crowns Last?
Dental crowns might not last a lifetime, but with proper hygiene, they will easily last 15 to 30 years. Gold crowns will last a long time, but they are more expensive and are not used often.
When your dentist recommends the placement of a dental crown, a ceramic crown is the most frequent and popular choice to protect your tooth and to restore the natural, healthy appearance.
Wear and tear cannot be avoided, and it could cause your crown to weaken and break over time. If you enjoy eating nuts, there is an increased risk of damage due to the biting pressure. Since we all have different diets and dental hygiene practices, it is tough to pinpoint the specific lifespan of your ceramic crown.
If you want to maximize the life expectancy of your ceramic crown, you should:
- Maintain your proper oral hygiene with daily brushing and flossing.
- Reduce your consumption of harder foods.
- Wear a mouthguard for sports or a nightguard if you grind or clench your teeth.
Related Article: Advantages & Disadvantages of Ceramic Crowns?