3 Dental Crown Facts You Should Know
While most cavities will require a small filling to fix it, your local dentist may recommend getting a crown if your cavity is large. Crowns do not make your teeth impervious to damage though, even though they protect your tooth from breaking. Here are three facts you should know about dental crowns before considering one.
Cavities Can Form On A Dental Crown
Having a dental crown should not alter any of your oral hygiene routine, as it needs cleaning just like a real tooth. This is because crowns can break down over time when exposed to foods that are acidic, like soda and sugar.
Make sure you still floss and brush twice a day to prevent your crown from decaying.
Dental Crowns Can Potentially Chip
While a dental crown is very hard, there is still a possibility that it could chip, requiring a trip to the dentist to fix it. When combined with acidic foods, the crown will weaken over time. While you may have had no problems eating harder foods like nuts after the crown was installed, a weakened crown may not be up to the task, causing it to chip.
The purpose of a crown is to protect the decayed portion of your tooth hidden underneath it. If a crown is chipped, that part of the tooth is exposed. This puts the crown and tooth at risk of forming a cavity. Since deep cavities often require a crown, a tooth that worsens due to a chipped crown could need a root canal.
Dental Crowns Could Require Replacement
Even if your dental crown is free of chips and cavities, your dentist may recommend having it replaced early if it shows signs of weakness. The goal behind this is to replace the crown before it becomes damaged, which will protect the tooth underneath from being exposed.
Your dentist will be able to look at your crown during your 6 month checkup, and determine if it is holding up well and if it needs replacement. Expect your dental crown to last between 10-20 years.
Dental Crowns Come In Different Colors
You do not need to worry about having an ugly crown for the rest of your life. Instead of going with a gold dental crown, you can get one that has porcelain fused directly to the metal, causing it to blend in with your teeth.
Now that you know some unique facts about dental crowns, it will help prepare you for what to expect after you have one installed.
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