When you think “How long do crowns last?” you should know it depends on the materials they are made of. As opposed to limited options of simple ceramic dental crowns before, these days you can pick different types of crowns. However, the type of crown is not the only factor that determines how long it lasts.
The life span of dental crowns also depends on your eating habits, oral hygiene, so on and so forth. You can control some of these factors and have healthy crowns for a long time to protect damaged teeth. There are different types of crowns available from ceramic crowns, porcelain crowns to composite resin and stainless steel crowns.
In this article, we will check the life span of each type of dental crown.
Lithium disilicate crowns or E-MAX crowns
These are unique dental crowns made from lithium disilicate glass-ceramics. Studies suggest that these crowns are expected to last for almost 10 years. However, if you don’t take proper care, they will start wearing out after 3 to 5 years. They are considered to be the most reliable among ceramic crowns due to their translucency and aesthetic appeal.
E-MAX are an excellent choice to be used after common treatments such as root canal. They are also known as IPS E-max crowns in the market and they are considered to be relatively newer than the other varieties.
Porcelain fused metal crowns
As one of the most popular crown types with a natural appearance, porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are a good option for front teeth. The average life expectancy of these traditional crowns is 10 years, ranging from 5 to 15 years. They are made of half porcelain and half metal, which gives us a good level of durability and strength. Porcelain is used on the outside of the crown to make sure the color of the crown matches with the rest of the teeth.
They are also considered to be relatively cheaper than zirconia or E-max. It is one of the most preferred porcelain crowns by dentists in the world.
Zirconia crowns
Made of zirconium dioxide, zirconia crowns are among the ones with the highest resistance to fracture.
According to a study in 2016, monolithic zirconia crowns resist high bite forces and are least likely to split after enduring extreme forces. This high longevity is the main reason for their long life expectancy, which is about 10 to 25 years. Zirconia is considered to be an appropriate alternative to other dental crowns mainly because of its exceptional strength and resistance. They can withstand the hardest materials and survive for the longest time.
Gold crowns
Gold crowns are not that popular anymore due to their artificial appearance. Their life expectancy is estimated at more than 10 years. However, if kept in good condition, they might last for a few decades. Our oral hygiene habits and natural teeth condition determines how long can a gold crown last.
Currently, if they are used, it is mostly for the molars and also combined with other metals such as palladium and nickel. It keeps the durability of the crown strong but brings down the cost. They are also considered to be among the cheaper options for a dental crown.
Gold crowns are aesthetically not very pleasing which is why most dentists advise against them these days.
How Can You Make Dental Crowns Last Longer?
A dental crown’s material, a temporary crown or permanent crown, determines how long it will last. However, their survival also depends on your own dental care habits as well as your oral hygiene habits.
Here are a few effective ways of how you can make your dental crowns last longer.
1. Oral Hygiene Practices
Taking proper care of your teeth will boost their overall health. With regards to the survival of dental crowns, oral hygiene makes all the difference. A consistent oral hygiene routine consists of regular brushing, flossing and dental visits every few months. Listerine can be another star product that you can add to your oral care routine. It helps in killing bacteria in your mouth and lessens dental decay.
2. Mouth Guard for Teeth Grinders
If you suffer from bruxism or teeth grinding, chances are your crown won’t last as long as it is supposed to. As a result, crowns wear out sooner than expected. A mouthguard can protect your teeth from coming in contact with each other as you constantly grind your teeth during sleep. It is an effective way to reduce the damage caused by Bruxism.
3. Bad Habits
A healthy lifestyle and clean eating habits can prove to be great for your tooth crown. It reduces the possibility of cavities remarkably if you skip having sugary foods. Having healthy foods can increase the life of your crowns because it reduces the risk of cavities.
Regular exercise and reduced calorie intake can help your crowns to last longer than usual. It is because you consume less sugary and starchy foods. It also helps if you suffer from a mouth odor problems and your crowns survive for a longer time.
4. Skip on Chewy or Hard foods
Crowns can give your teeth a long and healthy life. The key to good teeth is prevention and you can do so many things to increase the life of your dental crowns. Among other things, we recommend that you skip on chewy or hard foods. Foods that can potentially hurt or cause a loose crown as you bite down.
This habit can lead you to maintain your dental crowns for a longer time. This can result in healthier and cleaner teeth.
5. Gentle Brushing
Sometimes overbrushing and harsh brushing can recede the gums. The recession of gums or any gum disease can expose a part of the tooth near the gums to cavities and debris. This could eventually weaken the dental crown and its purpose, i.e. to protect your tooth from further decay. In order to prevent your gums from receding, you can invest in a tooth brush with soft bristles meant for gentle brushing.
Additionally, it is also advised to floss your teeth after brushing because it helps with the cleaning of the spaces the brush cannot reach.
Dental treatments around the world are going through a major transformation. Turkey is one such country where you will be able to find superior expertise in affordable prices.
Even simple procedures such as dental crowning and replacement are done in the most professional way. Dental crowning is a swift and effective procedure carried out with the help of qualified staff and high-quality dental technology.
Get in touch with our staff and we will answer all your important queries about dental procedures in Turkey.
How long do crowns last on front teeth
There is no specific time period for when a crown starts to deteriorate. In the same way, it usually doesn’t matter where in your teeth structure they are placed. However, it is predicted that the average lifespan of front teeth crowns is 15 to 20 years if they are taken care of properly.
Whether a dental crown is placed on the front teeth or the molars or premolars, the decay depends on one’s oral health habits. If you are someone who does not pay attention to their dental care, there are chances that your crown will decay faster than usual.
At the same time, dentists advise taking extra care with front teeth crowns. They may be a little sensitive than the other teeth because we put a lot more force on them when we chew. Therefore, the damage could be bigger if we consume hard or chewy foods.