Dental crowns are a long-lasting solution to replace a missing or damaged tooth surface, however long lasting doesn’t mean forever.
Dental crowns are a long-lasting solution to replace a missing or damaged tooth surface, however long lasting doesn’t mean forever. It is advised you have your dental crowns replaced throughout your life, whether the crown is affixed to a dental implant or a damaged natural tooth. How do you know when it’s time to replace your dental crowns? A few signs include:
- Your crown is painful, or you experience swelling – Your dental crown should never be painful or even uncomfortable. If it has been sized, shaped, and placed correctly by your Logan area dentist, it should feel just like a natural tooth. Pain or swelling is a sign of underlying infection within the tooth under the crown, or that the crown has been incorrectly placed and therefore needs to be removed.
- Your dental crown is discolored – Unlike natural teeth, there is no whitening a dental crown. If your dental crown has become discolored and no longer matches the natural shade of your natural teeth, this is a sure sign it’s time to be replaced.
- Your crown is getting older – Even crowns that still “look” great may need to be removed and replaced. The average dental crown is built to last for around 10 to 15 years before requiring replacement, and it’s always a good idea to have your crowns replaced before it becomes a dental emergency situation. If your crown is nearing the decade-old mark, ask your Logan area dentist if you should be considering replacement in the near future.
- Your crown is damaged – A chipped, cracked, or otherwise damaged crown is a crown that puts your oral health at risk. For those who have crowns overtop of a damaged tooth, a broken crown may lead to further tooth damage or loss.
- Different types of crowns have different lifespans – The type of crown you have matters when it comes to knowing when to replace them. Metal and porcelain fused to metal crowns often have the longest lifespans, while natural-looking porcelain crowns are a bit more fragile and therefore more likely to require replacement sooner.
Your dental crown should make your smile better, and they can only continue to do this when they’re replaced as needed. With your Logan area dentist, you can always stay on top of your crowns and therefore stay on top of your oral health.
