How to Maintain Your Dental Crown

One of the most common restorations in dentistry, a dental crown has a lot to offer. It can restore a tooth badly damaged by decay. It can strengthen and reinforce a weakened tooth. It can even restore a dental implant. Knowing how to properly care for your dental crown can help you enjoy years of use and long-lasting oral health. At Fort Dental Health Group, our dentists offer tooth-coloured dental crowns for a more natural-looking appearance. Today, our team will explore a few tips and tricks to help you maintain your custom restoration for years to come.

The life span of a dental crown

When considering a custom dental restoration, it is important to understand that none of them are likely to last forever. After all, there is nothing quite as durable as your natural teeth. Generally speaking, tooth crowns last an average of 15 years. However, with today’s advanced materials and techniques, they can sometimes last upwards of 25 to 30 years.

Tips to properly care for your dental crown

There are plenty of obvious – and not so obvious – tips and tricks that can help you care for and maintain your dental crown. For example, do:

• Brush and floss daily. Some patients mistakenly assume that dental crowns are impervious to decay. On the contrary, the tooth structure underneath the restoration is still susceptible to bacteria. Therefore, you should brush and floss your dental crown just like your natural teeth. This routine practice will remove plaque deposits and biofilm that harbour bacteria.
• Attend all dental visits. Many patients can maintain healthy teeth and gums with professional teeth cleanings every six months. Keep in mind, however, that if you are prone to decay or gum disease, your doctor may recommend more frequent visits. During these appointments, he or she will also check your crown to make sure it is healthy and functioning properly.
• Consider a custom mouth guard. If you suffer from bruxism – or tooth grinding – it can damage your natural teeth as well as any restorations you have. A custom mouth guard can protect your teeth from excessive force and prevent unnecessary damage.
• Use an antibacterial mouthwash. If you do not already do so, this will help keep the area around the crown free from harmful microbes and bacteria. Keep in mind, however, that mouthwash should be used as a supplement, and never in place of proper brushing and flossing.

Things to avoid

It probably won’t surprise you to hear there are also certain things to avoid when caring for your dental crown. For instance, do not:

• Use your teeth as tools. When you can’t locate a pair of scissors, it can be tempting to open packages with your teeth. Avoid this at all costs as it can damage your dental crown, not to mention your natural teeth.
• Chew on pens, pencils, or your fingernails. This can be a difficult habit to break. However, it can lead to chips, cracks, and other forms of dental damage.
• Bite into ice or hard candy. All patients – whether they have dental crowns or not – should avoid these activities. Chewing on hard objects will place unnecessary pressure on your restorations. As a result, they will wear much more quickly.

Learn more about custom dental crowns in Fort Saskatchewan

Do you already have a dental crown? Are you considering one? Knowing how to care for your new crown will help you extend the life of your restoration. To learn more, or to schedule an appointment at our Fort Saskatchewan, AB practice, contact us online or give us a call at 780.998.7165.