Helpful Tips to Follow So That Your Dental Crown Can Meet Its Expected Lifespan

When you visit your dentist for tooth restoration, functionality is important, but so is the esthetic of the restoration. You want it to look natural while also being long-lasting. As dental technologies have evolved over the years, dentistry has become more than just about science. It is also about art. If you seek a restoration that will restore your smile while also providing a beautiful appearance, consider a dental crown from Dr. Rekha M. Mahajan and her team at Mahajan Dentistry of Novi, Michigan. Dr. Mahajan will work hard for you to walk away with dental work that is enduring and esthetically pleasing.

When it comes to teeth restorations, porcelain dental crowns are an incredibly versatile option to correct a wide range of dental flaws – both restorative and cosmetic. Porcelain crowns can be used to cap a tooth that has become discolored or protect a tooth compromised by significant decay, leaving it weakened. A porcelain crown’s most important benefit is its strength and durability. When properly cared for, a porcelain crown should last you many years.

The key to ensuring your dental crown lasts for its expected lifetime is knowing how to care for it and what to do so that you do not damage it. You may have a single crown or five crowns, it does not matter. Here are some easy-to-follow tips to ensure your crowns provide you with years of beautiful smiles.

Avoid Hard and Sticky Foods

While crowns have proven time and again to be strong and durable, they are not invincible and can be damaged. If you are not careful when eating, you may find that chewing certain foods can leave your crown cracked or broken. If this happens, it will have to be replaced. This can occur when chewing on hard foods such as hard candies or ice. Hard foods are not the only ones that should be avoided. Sticky and very chewy foods can also cause problems with your crown. Sticky foods, such as taffy, could pull your crown off or could become lodged between your crown and gums. Because of this, avoidance is preferred.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene Habits

While your crown may not be a real tooth, the tooth underneath will still require routine oral care to remain healthy. In addition, while the crown does encapsulate the entire tooth underneath, sticky plaque will still adhere to the crown and can get down to the gumline. Regular brushing and flossing are still the key to caring for your porcelain crown so that it looks its best and has a long lifespan. Flossing away germs and food particles from between your gums and the crown will also ensure that you do not have to worry about pesky and dangerous gum disease. While a temporary crown could become dislodged from aggressive flossing, your permanent crown will be cemented using a much stronger adhesive, allowing you to floss around it just as you would your regular teeth.

Kick Bad Habits

Biting your nails, chewing on the end of a pencil or pen, and grinding your teeth when stressed are all examples of habits that can be harmful to a porcelain dental crown. If you find that you use your teeth as a “tool” for opening a hard-to-budge bottle cap, it is probably time you stop doing that as well. Any previously mentioned habits could eventually break or dislodge your dental crown. Hard objects can also splinter and become lodged in your gums. So really, these habits can not only be harmful to a dental crown but also your overall oral health. If you have tried breaking bad habits in the past with little success, now is the time to double down on your efforts. Maybe even sit down with your dentist and see if they have advice they can give you to help eliminate these habits.

These are just a few tips you can follow to ensure your porcelain dental crown lasts as long as it should. If you are interested in learning more about dental crowns or are ready to schedule an appointment in Novi, Michigan, call Dr. Rekha M. Mahajan at Mahajan Dentistry. To reach Dr. Mahajan’s Novi, Michigan office, please call (248) 971-2200 today!