Tips for Giving Your Crown a Long, Healthy Life!

Dental crowns are tooth-shaped hollow caps placed over weak, broken, or decayed teeth to strengthen and protect their structure. Crowning a vulnerable tooth restores its usefulness for biting and chewing food. Natural-looking dental crowns can even restore a broken tooth’s shape and color to improve your smile’s appearance. That’s how valuable crowns can be! And that’s why it’s important to take good care of them. Although porcelain crowns are naturally strong, there are measures you can take to extend their lifespan. These tips from Dr. Colby Smith from Granite Bay Dentistry in Granite Bay, California, can help you get the most from your dental crown treatment.

Porcelain Crowns: How to Extend Their Lifespan

Porcelain crowns bear a close resemblance to natural teeth in color and translucency, making them a popular restorative treatment. They’re also strong, stain-resistant, and enduring, lasting up to 10+ years. Of course, that depends a great deal on their use, maintenance, and care. Here are a few ways you can keep your crown in optimal shape :  

• Good Oral Hygiene

Crowned teeth, like all your teeth, need daily brushing and flossing to stay healthy and strong. Porcelain crowns are resistant to decay, but the tooth under your crown is at risk. If bacteria gather around the base of the crown, it can result in decay, infecting your tooth and triggering painful symptoms. To treat your tooth, your crown may need to be removed, and the procedure repeated at an extra cost. Diligent brushing and flossing can keep plaque to a minimum. Rinsing your mouth daily with antimicrobial mouthwash provides extra protection against cavities.

Actual Patient Results

• Routine Checkups and Cleanings

Seeing your dentist regularly can help keep your crown in good shape over the years. Dr. Smith can monitor the state of your crown to detect and treat problems early before too much damage is done. We’ll also clean your teeth and crowns to eliminate plaque and tartar that increase your risk of decay and dental disease.

• Diet

Your diet can impact the longevity of your porcelain crown, as certain foods can cause damage to your crown structure. Hard and sticky foods should be avoided as they can chip or dislodge your crown. Sugary foods and drinks pose a greater risk of getting cavities. In contrast, a healthy diet rich in nutrients that promote good oral health can extend the lifespan of your crown.

• Lifestyle Habits

Dental crowns can be impacted by poor lifestyle choices. Smoking and excessive drinking can weaken your teeth and, consequently, your crown as well. Chewing on ice, nails, or pens and grinding your teeth can wear down your crown before its time. If you grind your teeth at night, we recommend wearing a night guard to protect your teeth and crown.

Porcelain Crowns Near Me

To learn more about crowns and their care or to schedule an appointment for crown treatment, contact Dr. Colby Smith from Granite Bay Dentistry in Granite Bay, CA, at (916) 735-4720. We look forward to meeting all your dental care needs.

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