Dental crowns are caps placed on top of damaged teeth. They are used to protect, cover, and restore the shape of your teeth where fillings cannot solve the problem. Dental crowns can be made of metals, porcelains, resin, and ceramics. An advantage of dental crowns is that they typically don’t require special care over time other than regular good oral hygiene.

Teeth can get damaged over time. It can happen for several reasons, such as tooth decay, injuries, or general use. These can cause your teeth to lose their shape or size. Dental crowns are tooth-shaped “caps” placed over your tooth that restores the tooth’s shape, size, strength, and appearance. Dental crowns are cemented into place on your tooth and cover the visible portion of the tooth.

Reasons to Get a Dental Crown

If you are wondering who needs a dental crown, you should get one if you fall into any of the following reasons:

• Protecting a weak tooth (possibly from decay) from breaking or keeping the weak tooth together if parts of it are cracked.
• Restoring a broken tooth or a severely worn-down tooth.
• Covering and supporting a tooth with a large filling and not much tooth remaining.
• Holding a dental bridge in place.
• Covering misshapen or severely discolored teeth.
• Covering a dental implant.
• Covering a tooth that’s been treated with a root canal.

How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?

A common question that people have is about the longevity of dental crowns. On average, a dental crown lasts between five and 15 years. The lifespan of a crown depends on the amount of wear and tear the crown is exposed to. If you want your crown to last, you must follow oral hygiene practices and personal mouth-related habits. These habits include:

• Grinding or clenching your teeth.
• Chewing ice.
• Biting your fingernails.
• Using your teeth to open packaging

Does a Crowned Tooth Require Special Care?

A crowned tooth doesn’t require any special care. However, the underlying tooth still needs to be protected from decay and gum disease. You should always maintain good oral hygiene practices when you have a crown. These practices include brushing your teeth twice daily and flossing once daily — especially around the crown area where the gum meets your tooth. Also, avoid biting on hard surfaces with porcelain crowns (for example, chewing ice or popcorn hulls) to prevent cracking the porcelain.

What are the Costs of Dental Crowns?

The cost of a dental crown depends on location and the type of crown you choose. Porcelain crowns, for example, are more expensive than gold crowns. However, you can expect to pay in a range between $800 and $1500 or more per crown. The cost of crowns is usually fully funded by insurance, and you should confirm with them before visiting a dentist.

Choose Austin Dental

Austin Dental is a dental team that strives to provide you with quality dental healthcare services and care tips. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries about your dental health.