A crown is a cap that covers a tooth too damaged to survive on its own. People usually want to know one thing before they agree to it: how long will this last?
The straight answer is that it depends less on the crown than on what happens around it.
Modern crown materials are hard and they do not decay. What fails is almost always the tooth underneath, or the join where the crown meets it.
Decay can start at that join if plaque gathers there. The cement can wash out over many years, or the tooth root can crack under load. In each case the crown is fine and the problem is beneath it.
Grinding is the big one. If you grind and you have crowns, a night guard protects the investment more than anything else you can do.
Cleaning the edge properly. Floss around the crown as well as brushing it. The join is just under the gum, where a brush does not reach.
Regular checkups earn their place here. Decay at the crown edge does not hurt until it is deep. Caught early it is a small repair, and caught late the tooth may not be savable.
Do not wait for pain. A crown that moves slightly is a smaller job than a crown that has come off.
Save it. Never glue it back with anything from a hardware shop, and do not chew on that side. Call us and bring the crown with you, because a crown that comes off cleanly can often go straight back on.
We make many of ours in our own lab, in the same building where they are fitted. That usually means fewer trips, and a small change to the shade or the fit can happen while you wait. Our dental crowns London Ontario page walks through each visit, and 519-472-4460 reaches us directly.
