How Long Does a Crown Last?

Longevity of any treatment in healthcare is referred to as prognosis for that treatment. There are many factors that can affect the longevity of dental crowns. First and foremost, any dental treatment has lowered prognosis if poor oral hygiene practices are present. Using a good, rechargeable electric toothbrush, a quality water jet, and routine flossing in addition to occasional use of OTC mouthwashes improve the prognosis of any dental treatment.

Material used is also important. Gold crowns lasts the longest, and if aesthetics allows, they are the most durable material for crowns, inlays and onlays. However due to their aesthetic limitations, they have been largely replaced by ceramic and zirconia crowns. Zirconia crowns are very durable and have good aesthetics but limited in terms of colors and shapes.

Patient oral habits also play a role. Those patients who are prone to grinding and clenching their teeth tend to break porcelain crowns, without use of bite guards.  Smoking stains porcelain crowns and leads to periodontal disease that ultimately results in loss of the tooth and the crowns. Constantly chewing in ice, and hard objects also shorten the lifetime of crown and teeth in general.

Therefore, if all factors that are in the hands of our dentist are under control, things such as quality of material used, patient hygiene, oral habits, make a difference in the longevity of crowns.  The best practices to protect your dental investment is to practice good oral hygiene, visit your dentist regularly, avoid poor habits such as chewing ice, and lastly wear a night guard at night to protect your teeth, crowns and veneers from breaking.