When we at Innovative Dental talk to patients who need dental crowns, they almost always ask one question, “How long will my crown last???? The answer is that dental crowns can last rather varied periods of time. In some cases they have lasted for several decades, but with poor care have been known to last just a few years. The lifespan of a dental crown is often dependent on you and the quality of crown you are given.
While no exact prediction can be made for how long a particular crown will last, Innovative Dental takes pride in being able to provide crowns that are able to last as long as possible, and we always strives to deliver nothing but the highest quality crowns for residents of Moonee Ponds and surrounds.
Because good information, good dentistry, and good aftercare are necessary to optimize crown life, we offer the following information and advice on keeping your crowns around for a very long time!
Factors that Determine Dental Crown Longevity
- Location of the tooth in the jaw
- Condition of the supporting tooth
- Oral hygiene and care of the crowned tooth
- Bad habits (Grinding or clenching, chewing ice, fingernails, removing bottle caps)
- Materials used (gold, zirconia, porcelain fused to metal, etc.)
- Proper manufacture and installation of the crown
- Full or partial crown
- Periodontal health (gum disease)
- External trauma (accidents)
Many insurance companies pay for a crown to be replaced if failure occurs after 5 to 8 years. At the same time, most dentists estimate that a crown should last from 5 to 15 years, possibly longer if well taken care of.
A Study Offers Good News!
- When dental crowns are the correct solution for the dental problem,
- When crowns are constructed well, using the top-notch materials,
- When installed professionally by a dedicated dental professional, and
- When proper patient home care is consistently practiced
Dental crowns can last for several decades.
One study tracked the success rate of 2,340 crowns installed by one specialist. At 10 years on, the success rate was 97% (2270 crowns lasted more than a decade). At 25 years on, the success rate was still astonishingly high at 85%. 1,989 out of 2,340 crowns lasted over 25 years (Walton, 2013)!
Notice should be taken of the 3% at 10 years and 15% at 25 years that did fail for various reasons. These rare failures should remind us that long-term success is not a certainty and that we should take proper care of our teeth, especially those with dental crowns.
The Steps for Ensuring Long Crown-life from Innovative Dental
Diagnosis: While dental crowns are quite effective, they are not the end-all or be-all of treatment. At Innovative Dental we recommend crowns only once we determine they are the best long-term solution offering the highest chance for successful treatment.
First-Class Materials: Depending on the location of the tooth or teeth to be treated, the desired “look???, and the bite characteristics of the patient, Innovative Dental recommends the appropriate material and construction of the crown.
Zirconia is extremely durable, but it is not always the right choice. Your needs and desires are always considered and addressed before we recommend the materials that we feel are best for your particular situation.
Expert Installation: Innovative Dental has installed a multitude of dental crowns over many years and this experience is priceless. We make sure the tooth surface is dry and properly textured before placing the crown. We also use only the strongest cements and our aftercare is the best in the industry.
At Innovative Dental, our mission is to provide you a virtually pain free experience, no matter what treatment is being performed.
Home Care: We will assist you in achieving the highest level of oral hygiene for your dental crown (and all of your teeth). Proper home care is essential for your crown’s longevity. The stronger your dental health is, the stronger your crowns are likely to be for many, many years.
The Innovative Dental Advantage
Our dental practice also has the latest technology to help achieve the highest standards of patient care. We use cutting edge tools like digital dental x-rays and intra-oral cameras. Our expert staff is well trained and keeps current on dental practices and technologies.
Innovative Dental offers FREE consultation for cosmetic dental procedures. For more information, visit our special offers page or call us on (03) 9346 8333 today!