How Long Do Full Coverage Crowns Last?
Maintaining your proper dental hygiene at home is a lifetime commitment, and a brief lapse in brushing your teeth will cause plaque to build up. If you do not visit your dentist and have a cavity filled, it will progressively decay to the point that you will now need a full coverage crown.
There are also other instances when your dentist may recommend a crown, like a damaged tooth that happened while playing sports, or an accident from tripping and falling.
When Do You Need Dental Crowns?
Dental cavities that increase to the point where a root canal procedure is needed often require a crown to cover the tooth for protection. Still, there are a variety of other situations when you may need a full coverage crown, including:
- A broken tooth.
- Tooth fractures.
- Severe tooth damage.
- A misshapen tooth.
- To attach a dental bridge to the tooth for support.
You may also want a crown for cosmetic reasons, like a tooth that is discolored or an unsightly gap.
What Are Full Coverage Crowns?
Full coverage crowns are common in dentistry, and they are a cap that fits over the tooth. Simple dental fillings can solve many tooth-related issues, and for situations that they cannot improve, full coverage crowns are often recommended. Another way to understand a crown is that it is a cap for a tooth.
The full coverage crown sits snugly on the tooth and can be custom-fabricated to match the natural size and shape of your original tooth. Full coverage crowns help achieve several goals, such as improving your teeth:
- Appearance
- Strength
- Size
- Shape
Full coverage crowns require an impression of the tooth. This impression is most often sent to a dental lab that will design and create the custom crown, but some dental offices now can make crowns in-house.
While you are waiting for your permanent crown, a temporary crown is usually placed on the tooth to protect it. When the crown is finished, your dentist removes the temporary crown, makes sure that the crown fits well, and then cements the crown permanently in place. The crown covers the entire visible part of the tooth and provides protection.
How Long Do Full Coverage Crowns Last?
Full coverage crowns may not last your lifetime, but with your proper care, they can easily last 15 to 30 years. Gold crowns, for example, can last an exceptionally long time, but they are also quite expensive.
When your dentist recommends a dental crown, they are trying to save a tooth or restore the natural appearance. Wear and tear are both completely natural and will cause your crown to weaken. If you enjoy eating nuts, there is a higher risk of wear from the hardness of the nuts and chewing pressure. Since everyone has their own diet and different dental hygiene practices, it is difficult to determine the exact lifespan of your crown.
If you want to extend the life of your full coverage crown, you need to:
- Maintain your daily regular oral hygiene with brushing and flossing.
- Reduce the consumption of overly hard foods, such as nuts.
- Wear a mouthguard if you either clench your jaw or grind your teeth.