A dental crown is a traditional, yet still popular and effective solution to restore a damaged or missing tooth.
When patients contact our dental clinic in Hungary about getting crowns, they usually ask how long dental crowns last.
The answer to this question is quite complex, so let’s explore all the details since their lifespan depends on a number of factors.
What is a dental crown?
A dental crown is a tooth replacement that is applied to an implant or the original tooth by specialists. Dental crowns don’t substitute tooth roots, the crown only replaces the visible part of the tooth. Your dentist can place a crown on your original tooth root or an artificial one (dental implant).
Dentists apply crowns when the tooth decay or other damages are so extensive that there’s not much tooth material left. In that case, the tooth cannot be restored with a filling (or dental veneer).
A dental crown can also be the solution when you want to restore a broken tooth or hold a dental bridge in place.
Dental crowns are used for aesthetic reasons as well, such as for enamel or dentine developmental disorders, closing gaps between teeth, and covering discoloured teeth.
If you need dental implants, the chewing surface can only be restored with a dental crown.
As you can see, a dental crown actually plays a prominent role in the restoration of chewing function and aesthetics.
There are different types of dental crowns, the most common ones being:
- Gold crowns
- Porcelain crowns
- E-max crowns
- Zirconia crowns
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns
How long do dental crowns last?
Under ideal conditions, a crown can last up to 10-20 years.
Durability depends on several factors.
The material is an important element. It determines how the crown resists chewing force, how easily it breaks.
At our dental clinic in Budapest we only make dental crowns using the best-quality materials. Of course, we always take individual characteristics into account when designing them for our patients:
- we try to preserve tooth structure as much as possible
- we design crowns with gum health in mind.
Another important condition for durability is regular brushing and flossing with the correct technique. Where the crown fits onto the tooth, there is a thin adhesive border where bacteria can enter over time if plaque remains on the tooth for a long time. If someone does not brush their teeth properly or regularly enough, even the most beautiful and durable crown can decay in a short time, sometimes in 1-2 years.
It must be emphasized: the better the oral hygiene, the longer the crown will last.
When we talk about how long a tooth crown lasts, it is also necessary to talk about aesthetic durability.
Sometimes dental crown replacements are not necessary because the crown has fallen off or broken, but because the gum has receded and the original tooth under the gum has become visible.
In this case, the colour may clash with the replacement, and the patient may feel the need for getting a new dental crown.
Ideally, a dental crown can be made in a couple of days as it takes massive dental lab work and some tests, but it will remain with you for many years.
How to care for your dental crown?
As mentioned above, when it comes to the durability of your dental crown, oral hygiene, especially gum care, is a key factor.
The surface of the crown cannot decay, but you need to take special care to clean the boundary between the gums and the dental crown, so that no plaque or tartar can form there. At the same time, the blood circulation of the gums should be stimulated with the appropriate brushing technique, thus preserving its health.
How long do zirconia crowns last?
The zirconium crown is considered one of the most modern solutions. Due to computer technology (CAD/CAM), the end result will fit in our mouth with a precision of a thousandth of a millimetre.
This material is completely metal-free, which is more favourable to those with allergies.
The best thing about it is that it adapts perfectly to the colour of your real teeth, no one will notice the difference.
Zirconium crowns are astonishingly strong and resistant. Typically, a zirconia crown lasts about 10 years, but with proper oral hygiene they can last up to 20 years.
How long does a temporary crown last?
The temporary crown is a temporary solution prepared by the dentist in the office for the short period until the final restoration is completed for the treated tooth.
Of course, temporary crowns are not as durable as the permanent ones, but they don’t have to last long either. Typically, patients wear temporary crowns for 1-2 weeks at most.
There are some cases for example bite corrections when temporary crowns must be worn longer for a couple of months. In this case the long term temporary crowns are made in the dental lab. These temporary solutioan are more aesthetic.
How long do crowns last on front teeth?
Typically, dental crowns are used on the back teeth, but patients can get crowns for their front teeth as well.
You may get a crown on a front tooth for the following reasons:
- a tooth is severely decayed or chipped
- a larger filling has broken off
- one or more front teeth are discoloured and whitenng does not help
Dental crowns on the front teeth can last 5-10 years. However, it’s important to know that patients should not put unnecessary pressure on the treated tooth and proper care is essential.
Porcelain dental crowns are semi-transparent and smooth, so they perfectly imitate the colour, shape, size, and character of natural teeth. They are perfectly suitable for replacing the first six teeth and you can get back your beautiful smile.
How long do porcelain crowns last?
Porcelain crowns can last anywhere from 5-15 years.
Daily wear and tear in the long run means that your crown will lose its strength earlier. If you want to make sure that the dental crown lasts longer, you need to give up certain habits, such as grinding your teeth, biting your nails, or chewing very hard food. These all weaken your porcelain crowns.
Closing thoughts
As you can see, dental crowns can fix many problems. In order to determine which dental crown is best for you, you need to consult with your dentist.
This dental procedure may be expensive, so more and more people decide to have their dental crowns in Budapest, Hungary. If you are looking for affordable treatments in Hungary, contact our clinic: Budapest Top Dental.
