Do Dental Crowns Require Special Care?

Dental crowns are ideal to save teeth damaged extensively from dental decay; teeth that have been broken or cracked; or as a final restoration for endodontic therapy or dental implants.
Dental crowns have been the standard of treatment for many decades. The primary change that has occurred is the type of material used to make crowns. Formerly metal and gold based crowns were the norm. Now porcelain has been introduced for use particularly in the smile line. Porcelain allows the dentist to perfectly match the crown to remaining surrounding biological teeth.
Once a dental crown has been placed, the same outstanding care we provide for our natural teeth is all that is required to keep the tooth and protecting crown healthy:

  • Flossing – Your dentist will instruct the best way to floss around a tooth that has been crowned.
  • Brushing – A minimum of twice per day with a tooth paste or gel is recommended, but more frequent brushing will do no harm.
  • Diet – While a crown is permanently cemented in place, there is a possibility that it can be loosened or dislodged. Particularly chewy foods like caramel is often the culprit and awareness to this might prevent a crown loss. If a crown should become loose or come off, try to salvage it so your dentist can recement it in place.
  • Dental visits – Your dental crown will be inspected at each dental visit. At these appointments you will have all your teeth clinically cleaned and polished to look their best. Your dentist will inspect your mouth and teeth to spot any potential problems to prevent them from escalating.

As infants our baby teeth come in; most of us get twenty. Eventually those teeth will be replaced with thirty-two permanent teeth.
Although our ultimate goal would be to keep all thirty-two teeth intact and healthy for life, circumstances will likely occur that will require a tooth to be extracted; or a tooth may break or become infected that results in treatment with a crown as the final restoration.
Consulting with your dental provider will allow you to select the correct course of action whether it is with a dental implant following tooth loss; inlay or onlay; or full crown. Following your dentist’s instructions on the care of your restoration will provide a lifetime of aesthetics and functionality. For an appointment, call 972-458-2464 today.