The average life of a dental crown , which is needed when there is not enough tooth structure to support a filling, is between 5 and 15 years. You can help to extend the life of the crown by practicing good oral hygiene . This includes properly brushing your teeth twice a day, properly flossing your teeth once a day and visiting a dentist at least twice a year for dental cleanings and examinations. However, even with the best oral hygiene, dental crowns are not expected to last more than 10 years for most people. Throughout the course of several years, the dental crown will be exposed to much wear and tear, plaque and bacteria. It may even break. For these reasons, a dentist will recommend replacing your old dental crown with a new one.
Types
There are several types of replacement crowns, including gold, porcelain and a combination of metals. A porcelain jacket crown is used when the crown needs more strength, and the porcelain can be mixed with gold or silver.
The Procedure
A local anesthetic is used during this procedure to make sure that the patient is as comfortable and pain-free as possible. The dentist removes any decay from the tooth. Using an elastic material, an impression of the tooth is taken. Before the replacement crown is made, a temporary acrylic crown is fitted over the tooth. Lastly, a new crown is cemented onto the tooth. Since a local anesthetic is used during the procedure, patients are usually pain-free. Some tooth sensitivity can be expected following the fitting of the crown, but this is minor and lasts only a short while.
Advantages
In contrast to the crowns that last only 5 to 15 years, replacement crowns are made to last about 40 years. Other advantages include aesthetics. Because replacement crowns are made to look natural, they improve the appearance of teeth and smile.
Cost
Depending on the type of replacement crown used, you can expect the cost to be anywhere from $650 to $1,350. Which dentist you select will also be a factor in cost, and what you have to pay will depend upon your dental insurance. It's important to know what your dental plan covers before being fitted for a replacement crown, so check with your insurance.
Find a dentist in your area if you suspect you need a replacement for an old crown.
