Exact Answer: Up to 15 years
A crown or a dental crown is a tooth-shaped cover that helps restore the shape, size, and strength of damaged teeth. It improves the teeth’ appearance by encasing the visible portion of the teeth to remain fully cemented around it. A dentist can easily put on a crown on one’s damaged tooth.
A crown helps to strengthen a damaged tooth when it is no longer strong enough to hold a large filling. It also helps to attach dental bridges and prevent root canals. A crown fundamentally restores the structure and appearance of a damaged tooth.
Several varieties of materials are used to make crowns because of which the longevity varies. The average longevity of a crown is said to be 10 years. However, under normal circumstances, a crown may also last for more than 15 years.
How Long Do Crowns Last?
The lasting period of a crown is anything between 10 to 15 years. Several factors determine the longevity of a crown. The type of material used to make a crown has a huge influence on its lasting period.
A crown has to be compatible with the damaged teeth in terms of strength, durability, and aesthetics. Each person demands a different type of crown made out of a combination of several materials. Hence, some crowns last longer than others and have more longevity.
One’s oral hygiene and lifestyle play a huge part in the lasting of a crown. It is recommended to maintain good oral hygiene and avoid using damaged teeth as a tool. Bad habits such as excessive grinding, clenching, or crushing of hard food or ice must be avoided.
Porcelain fused to metals
Porcelain fused to metals is a popular choice of crowns that are used for the front teeth. These crowns have natural-looking aesthetics but can deteriorate due to old age or chipping. Porcelain fused to metals may last for 5 to 15 years.
Lithium Disilicate
Lithium Disilicate is made out of lithium and hard crystalline silicon to form glass-ceramics. It is a highly prescribed crown because of its good strength, appearance, and availability. Such crowns may last for 5 to 15 years with good care.
Zirconia
Zirconia is a durable crown made out of zirconium. It is considered the strongest non-metallic material to form a crown. It lasts for 10 to 15 days.
Gold
Gold is a good choice of material for making crowns. It has excellent strength, good resistance, and the natural ability to fit into damaged teeth easily. Although it is expensive, it survives for more than ten years.
In summary:
| Crown | Longevity |
| Porcelain fused to metals | 5 – 15 years |
| Lithium Disilicate | 5 – 15 years |
| Zirconia | 10 – 15 years |
| Gold | 10 – 15 years |
Why Do Crowns Last So Long?
Crowns last for 10 years on average. Several factors determine the health of a crown. In the absence of any unfavorable event, some crowns may also last for 25 years or more. Good oral hygiene and mouth-related habits can increase the longevity of a crown.
Bad Habits
Bad mouth-related habits such as clenching, chipping, or grinding can decrease the lasting period of a crown. A night guard is recommended to avoid unwanted habits. Precautions are needed to not cause a loose or chipped crown.
Oral Hygiene
Poor oral hygiene can cause a crown to fall off. Having bad oral hygiene can result in the decay of the underlying damaged teeth. It also loosens up the material used to cement the crown.
Materials
The type of material used to make a crown plays a huge role in determining its longevity. Metal dental crowns are more durable in comparison to ceramics or porcelain crowns. All resin dental crowns are less expensive, however, they have a shorter wear-out time.
Dentist Skill-set
The skills of a dentist also greatly determine the longevity of a crown. The preparation, impression, and scanning done by the dentist decide the health of a newly placed crown. The use of a digital scanner in place of the traditional impression tray is highly appreciated because of better results.
Conclusion
Crowns are a common way of treating different dental issues. They are made out of different metals and alloys to produce the right type of crown for each individual. They can be expensive depending on the material used during the preparation.
A crown can last anything between 5 to 15 years. Several factors such as oral hygiene, bad mouth-related habits, materials used and dentist skillsets determine the wear-out period of the crown. To increase durability, one must take care of all the mentioned factors.
References
- https://www.vetsmall.theclinics.com/article/S0195-5616(98)50113-1/abstract
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1600-9657.2010.00871.x
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