If you’re asking yourself “how long do crowns last on front teeth?”, then it is likely you’ve recently suffered some damage to your teeth.
Have you recently lost a tooth (or a group of teeth) or suffered a knock to your front teeth and a piece got broken off?
If so, then you are definitely in need of a replacement. There are many possible ways of restoring these missing teeth and the most common method is by having a dental crown placed over the broken tooth or teeth.
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How Long Do Crowns Last On Front Teeth?
The reason we are singling out front teeth is because they are more commonly in need of a crown to cover them since they are smaller and weaker than back teeth.
It’s also because they make up your smile, which for some unexplainable reason is more important nowadays than the ability to chew. Therefore people are more likely to protect them or replace them if they are lost or broken.
In general, the life expectancy of crowns and bridges ranges anywhere between 8 to 12 years from the time they are made. After that period, you need to check if they have problems or need to be repaired or even replaced
Of course that doesn’t mean that 12 years is the maximum a crown or bridge could stay in your mouth. I had patients with bridges that were made more than 30 years ago and are still incredibly strong and presented no problems at all.
Even if you aren’t experiencing any problems, you should still have your dental implants checked regularly. Common problems that I’ve seen arise are:
Gum Recession
Crowns are artificial structures and therefore exert a force on the gums. So you could expect your gums to shy away from the margins of crowns after a while. This could cause no problems at all, but if it happened in the front area, appearance is seriously affected and you might feel a bit of sensitivity as well.
Food Impaction And Decay
With proper care, maintenance and frequent visits to the dentist, this should not be a problem. But that is not always the case. Unfortunately, more often than not, crowns tend to trap small food remnants and plaque around their margins which if not cleaned properly, could seep under the crown and decay the tooth.
Chipped Or Cracked Crowns
Crowns are made either of a metal (or zirconium) core covered by a layer of porcelain, or entirely of porcelain. Porcelain is a fragile material and over time and wear, it often gets chipped or cracked. In most cases you don’t even notice this, which is why it is better to get crowns and bridges checked out by a professional.
Tartar Build Up
This may come as a shock, but crowns and bridges could build up plaque and tartar just as much as natural teeth, if not more. Especially if they have a small undetected broken, chipped or rough area.
So Who Needs A Crown?
Crowns are means to protect your teeth. So a tooth that is weak and need of strengthening needs a crown. Examples of such cases are:
What About Bridges?
Bridges are essentially 3 or more crowns joined together to span an empty space. Bridges have been around for ages and are still very usable in modern dentistry.
With the advancements in technology, bridges have become more natural looking and in feeling too. Their durability has increased significantly, however this isn’t the only way to replace missing teeth.
Other tooth replacement methods include:
What Are Crowns And Bridges Made Of?
There are 3 main categories of crowns and bridges:
- 1Metal With Porcelain Covering:
The core is made of metal (the part that fits the tooth) and is covered by a few layers of porcelain to mask the silver color of the metal. This gives the tooth its natural appearance and functionality. - 2Zirconium With Porcelain Covering:
Same deal, but instead of metal, Zirconium is used. Zirconium (you might know it as fake diamonds) is an incredibly strong, inert and durable material similar to metal. It has the added advantage of being white in color, so you would expect the aesthetics to be a lot better. - 3All Porcelain Crowns:
The most modern advancement in the field. Crowns and bridges nowadays are almost all made of porcelain with no metal or zirconium core. This is because the research that went into the matter have made incredibly strong porcelain. They are made using computer guides, so the accuracy is far greater than traditional means.
How Long Do Crowns Last On Front Teeth, Answered
Edentulism (having missing teeth) is a global phenomenon. Almost everybody around the globe has suffered a loss of one or more teeth. Which is probably due to lack of care and the ever popular opinion of “so what if I lost a tooth, I still have another 32 to chew on”.
Nothing, and we mean nothing could ever replace a natural tooth in its feel, comfort and naturality. So in this case “prevention is better than cure” takes quite a literal meaning.
However, if the deed has already happened, your should seek to replace these missing teeth as soon as you can. Don’t waste your time by asking questions such as “how long do crowns last on front teeth” and “are dental crowns permanent”
Because a missing tooth is a disease. If you are uncomfortable with crowns and bridges, just pick something better suiting your taste.
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