How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?
Dental crowns at Cherrywood Dental Care are extremely effective treatments to save your natural tooth and to restore your mouth to a healthier state, but how long can you count on this crown working? Truly crowns are to be considered long term solutions to help lengthen not only the lifetime of the tooth it is covering but as a way to keep your whole mouth healthier, longer. How safe is it to assume they will last a life time?
The Lifetime of a Dental Crown
We are going to be able to give you an estimate on how long your new car will last, but if you do not do the maintenance regularly or address small leaks before they become large problems, the estimate will change. Dental crowns are no different; you have decided to make an investment in your long term oral health so you need to consider the materials you choose and how you care for your teeth in general.
Most often for most people, dental crowns have an average lifespan of 10 to 30 years. That’s a big variance in time, but all crowns are different. While some people have crowns that last a lifetime, others are prone to cracking crowns due to use. It is important to talk to your dentist who is doing your crown work to get an accurate estimate based on the materials, tooth placement, and general personal habits. Your dentist may estimate one crown to last 15 years, but then expect another to last about 20.
Overall, good crowns last a minimum of 8 years, but dental insurance companies are usually willing to pay for crowns to be replaced after 5 to 8 years.
Estimating How Long a Crown Can Last
The current condition of the tooth you want to crown can affect the life expectancy of the crown. If the tooth is not healthy enough once the decay is removed, the crown can’t effectively hold onto the tooth causing the crown to loosen. You want to give the crown the best opportunity to adhere properly from the moment the crown is placed.
Assuming your crown is properly fit, these are the things you can do that affect how long the crown can last:
- Dental hygiene at home and with regular dental visits
- Habits of chewing on ice cubes, other crunchy foods or sticky foods
- Teeth grinding or clenching
- Material choice of the crown
Caring for Dental Crowns
After the removal of decayed tooth and reshaping of the natural tooth, your mouth may be sore. Once the crown is in place, your mouth should be nearly back to normal. It may take some time for the new crown to feel normal, and you may want to avoid very crunchy or very sticky food to ensure you and your crown are most comfortable. At home oral care helps but you still need to maintain your dentist visits for regular checkups and cleanings. Brushing twice a day with the addition of flossing is one of the best habits to ensure you are doing everything you can to keep your mouth as healthy as possible in between your cleanings at the dentist office.
Associated Costs
The total bill at the end of the procedure will vary from patient to patient; your personal price will be determined by how long dentist works on your procedure, the materials the dentist uses, number of appointments, and the amount of work the dentist invests in your smile. Your dental insurance plan will help cover the costs of many procedures and many of the steps in the procedures. If you have questions about your payment options for your treatment plan, please talk to our staff at any time to clarify any concerns. We want your wallet to feel as healthy as your smile.
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