At My Local Dentists West Ryde, we use dental crowns (often called caps) in several restorative treatments.
A crown adds strength to a tooth that has a large filling or has been injured, a crown can correct bite misalignments, and a crown is usually necessary after a root canal.
Crowns are also used for purely cosmetic problems including yellow teeth, stained teeth, too-small teeth, and teeth that are misshapen.
Because crowns are so useful and long lasting, patients often ask how long their crowns will last. The answer is that there is no single answer – how long they last often depends on how well they are taken care of.
But what is true, is that getting your crowns from your trusted My Local Dentists West Ryde, is one way to increase the chances that your crown will last for the longest possible time!
Factors that Determine Dental Crown Longevity
- Is the tooth at the rear or front of the mouth
- Is the crown full or partial
- How good is the manufacture and installation
- Condition of the original tooth under the crown
- Grinding or clenching
- Oral hygiene and care of the crowned tooth
- Harmful habits (chewing ice, fingernails, removing bottle caps)
- Materials used (gold, zirconia, porcelain fused to metal, etc.)
- Periodontal health (gum disease)
Most insurance companies cover crown replacement if failure occurs after 5 to 8 years. Many dentists ‘guesstimate’ that a crown should last from 5 to 15 years, or more. This estimate is realistic and does not mislead patients into thinking that their crowns are indestructible. And in some cases, crowns last many decades.
Dental crowns can last for several decades
One study tracked the success rate of 2,340 crowns. 10 years after placement, the success rate was 97%. 25 years after placement, the success rate was still astonishingly high at 85%. Amazingly, 1,989 out of 2,340 crowns lasted over 25 years (Walton, 2013)!
These numbers mean that only 3% of crowns needed replacement at 10 years or sooner, and 15% needed replacement at 25 years or sooner.
The Role of your Dentist in Ensuring Long-Lived Crowns
At My Local Dentists West Ryde, we strive to do our part in extending the long life of dental crowns with the following approaches:
Proper Diagnosis: Dental crowns are not always the most appropriate treatment and we only recommend them when they are the best long-term solution with the highest chance for successful treatment.
Top Notch Materials: Based on the location of the tooth or teeth to be treated, the bite pattern of the individual patient, and the desired appearance, My Local Dentists West Ryde recommends the appropriate material and construction of the crown.
Expert Installation: At My Local Dentists West Ryde we have installed crowns for many years and have the education, training, and experience needed for a successful procedure. We carefully prepare the tooth and crown, and use only the finest adhesives available to create a solid and long-lasting fit.
What Can You Do?
Home Care: While we help you attain the highest level of dental care in the comfort of our offices, home care is critical for your crown’s longevity. The healthier your mouth is, the better your chances are of having problem free dental crowns for many, many years.
Dental crown lifespan is often related to your own oral hygiene habits. While permanent crowns are relatively low-maintenance, that does not mean they don’t need care and attention. Here are several things you can do to ensure your crowns are long lasting:
Practice good oral habits: Don’t grind your teeth, bite your nails, chew ice, or use your teeth to open packaging, as they can potentially lead to a loose crown.
Brush and floss appropriately: Some people believe that a tooth protected by a dental crown is not subject to further decay. That simply isn’t true. The underlying tooth is still there and still prone to the problems of all teeth.
A dental crown does not rule out gum disease or further decay, so it’s important to brush and floss like it does. Brushing twice a day and flossing at least once a day, while paying special attention to the area where gum meets tooth is recommended.
Mouthwash: Dentists often recommend using an antibacterial mouth rinse, which helps treat the area around the crown.
With good care, in our office and your home, you can contribute to the long life of your own dental crowns!
My Local Dentists West Ryde Advantage
At My Local Dentists West Ryde, we provide you with personalised service. All our dentists are highly motivated and accredited practitioners with graduate degrees from the University of Sydney. As well as the dentists, the supporting staff at My Local Dentists West Ryde are highly dedicated and experienced to ensure each visit with us is comfortable as possible.
Special Offers
- 10% discount for employees in the Marketplace
- 10% discount for Seniors
Call your West Ryde dentist on (02) 9809 7000 or simply book your appointment online TODAY!