Long Live Your Crowns: 5 Expert-Approved Ways of Caring for Your Dental Crown

Although our crowns are created from premium materials, they aren’t indestructible. However, proper maintenance can prolong the life of your crowns and avoid costly, premature replacements. 

Need your crown to last many years? Here’s the secret. 

1. Observe good oral hygiene: You know the drill. With or without dental crowns, brush your teeth twice daily and floss them at least once daily. Good oral hygiene eliminates harmful bacteria, protecting your smile from gum disease, tooth decay, and other problems. Although dental crowns can’t develop decay, the tooth underneath can. So, be diligent with your oral hygiene to ensure your crown’s foundation remains healthy and strong. 
2. Watch out for your diet: Although dental crowns allow you to eat almost all your favorite foods, avoid certain foods. Sticky and hard foods like nuts, caramel, and taffy can cause damage or loosen your crown over time. Limit the intake of these foods to keep your crown secure. 
3. Avoid poor oral habits: Dental crowns are strong, but they don’t appreciate being used as tools. Avoid chewing on ice, hard candies, or using your teeth to open packages (yes, we see you). These habits can crack or loosen your crown over time. Think of it this way: if it’s tough enough to challenge your jaw, it’s tough enough to damage your crown.
4. Use a mouthguard: Although dental crowns are resilient, they can be damaged by poor oral habits like chronic teeth grinding (bruxism). A custom nightguard prevents tooth-to-tooth contact, protecting your crown and teeth from bruxism-induced damage. Additionally, sports accidents can damage or dislodge your crown. Talk to your dentist about an athletic guard to protect your crowns during contact or high-risk sports. 
5. Visit your dentist regularly: Even with good at-home maintenance, you still need the help of a dentist. Visit your dentist at least twice annually for check-ups and cleanings. These allow your dentist to inspect your crown and clean your mouth professionally to remove built-up plaque and tartar. Routine screenings will enable us to detect and treat minor issues before they become costly and painful.

Getting same-day dental crowns in the Scottsdale area is welcome news for anyone who wants to restore their smile without protracted treatment. Although single-visit crowns are long-lasting, they need the same care as your natural teeth to keep them strong and healthy. Take good care of your dental crowns, and they’ll last many years.