How Long Do Full Coverage Crowns Last?
While a full coverage dental crown shouldn’t be expected to last a lifetime, it’s reasonable to expect one to last for decades with the proper care. Depending on the material used to build the crown, this could mean a lifespan of 15 to 35 years. The most durable material for full coverage crowns is gold, but this isn’t used often, due mostly to cost and appearance. However, if you want a long-lasting crown, have extra money, and like the look, you can’t go wrong with gold. For materials other than gold, it’s reasonable to expect a full coverage dental crown to last anywhere from 10-30 years if cared for properly.
The goal of a full coverage crown is to restore the structure of a tooth that is damaged or, when used with a dental implant, to replace a tooth that has fallen out. Just as normal wear and tear can affect the natural teeth, these forces can also affect crowns, though normal wear and tear might look different from person to person. Keep in mind that there are factors you can control that will help extend the lifespan of your dental crowns, some of which may have contributed to your need for crowns in the first place. For example, if you have bruxism, a condition characterized by the chronic, often-unconscious clenching of the jaw and grinding of the teeth, your teeth may have suffered for it, and you shouldn’t make your crowns suffer, too. If you have bruxism, talk to your dentist about a night guard; they can recommend an over-the-counter one or plan a custom one for you to wear while sleeping, protecting your crowns, teeth, and jaw from destructive, chronic pressure.
In addition to using a night guard to manage the effects of bruxism, other recommendations for prolonging the life of full coverage crowns include:
- Consistently doing your part to prevent gum disease, including regular flossing and brushing with fluoride toothpaste, and routine visits to the dentist
- Remaining mindful of your consumption of very hard or sticky foods that could damage your crown
- Refraining from using your teeth or your crowns to open bottles or packages, and generally not using your teeth as tools
Just as the type of material affects the overall lifespan of a full coverage crown, so does its placement in the mouth. The teeth used most for chewing and grinding will, naturally, wear down faster than the other teeth and may need to be replaced more often. Your dentist will assess the wear on your crowns just as they assess the wear on your teeth at your routine dental exam. They’ll also look for any issues with loose crowns or other fit problems, correcting these or replacing the crown, as needed. Many dental insurance companies will pay for new, replacement crowns as often as every five years. However, if your crown looks good, feels good, and isn’t causing any problems, it’s okay to keep it for as long as it serves its purpose.
If you have a crown break or fall out, contact your dentist right away, remembering that the tooth beneath the crown is more vulnerable without its protective cap. If the crown falls out intact and you have it, keep the crown and take it with you to the dentist, as it might be possible to re-cement the same crown back in place – though this isn’t always recommended, depending on the circumstances. Let your dentist be your guide and call right away if you break or lose a crown, and otherwise follow your dentist’s recommendations to do your part in keeping your full coverage crowns whole and in place for as long as possible.
Related Article: Indication for Full Coverage Crowns