Tooth decays and cavities are a common thing among all ages and can easily be treated by a dentist near you. However, severe tooth decay can weaken the tooth structure as the infection spreads to the roots. The best course to take at this point is to undergo root canal treatment and protect the compromised tooth by placing a dental crown over it. Additionally, dental crowns are used to replace missing teeth and to restore a fractured tooth.
What Is A Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a cap-like structure imitating a real tooth, used to protect and strengthen a tooth weakened by decay. It is usually made of pure porcelain, porcelain-fused-to-metal, composite-resin material, or metal alloys. Crowns are the most popular restorative dental treatment that restores the proper functioning of a tooth by providing strength, stability, shape, and durability.
Made to match the exact shape, size, and colour of your real teeth, a dental crown, quite often, is also used in cosmetic dentistry. Once placed properly and taken good care of, it can easily last 10-15 years or more.
How To Ensure That Your Dental Crowns Stay In Good Shape For Long?
Like all other dental appliances, a dental crown also requires adequate oral hygiene to make it last longer. Maintaining a clean and hygienic oral cavity is essential to keep harmful germs and bacteria from causing damage to your dental structure. Similarly, it is also of utmost importance to follow the instructions provided by your dentist in Longmont post the dental crown installation to ensure they don’t come off or get infected.
Some useful tips to maintain your dental crowns are as follows:
1. Good Oral Hygiene
It is worth bearing in mind that your dental crown is like a jacket over the damaged and restored tooth. The fine line joining the crown to your gums is susceptible to bacterial development, causing tooth decay below the crown. This line at the base of a dental crown is a possible access point for germs to enter the delicate tooth structure beneath the crown and spread decay in and around the tooth.
It cannot be stressed enough by dentists all across the globe that developing and practising good oral habits goes a long way in keeping all oral diseases at bay. After you have finished the procedure for getting porcelain crowns near you, make sure you keep your oral cavity clean by brushing, flossing, and rinsing your mouth with mouthwash regularly. Going for a dental cleaning can also help eliminate the risk of developing plaque or decay around your dental crown.
2. Being Gentle With Your Dental Crown
Before getting porcelain crowns in Longmont, remember that a dental crown is not as strong as your natural teeth. Therefore, you cannot expect it to take the same bite-force as your natural teeth. Also, a dental crown is fixed onto your compromised tooth after treating it using dental cement or a specific adhesive. And, like any other bond, a strong force is best avoided to keep the bond intact for long.
Follow these rules to avoid damaging your dental crowns:
● Stay away from chewy and sticky substances like caramel or gum.
● Remember not to bite forcefully on hard substances, else you will end up with a cracked dental crown.
● Avoid habits like biting nails and grinding teeth that cause undue pressure on your crowns.
3. Seeking Help When Needed
Even with all the precautions and following the advice of your dentist, there are times when your dental crown might begin to feel loose, crack, or come off. In any such event, seek the immediate help of your dentist to repair the damage or replace the dental crown.
Also, if you notice a black line developing at the base of the dental crown, have a dentist examine it to determine if it signifies decay.
With proper care and following these tips to maintain them, there is no reason why your dental crowns will not last 15 years or more! Our dentists at Longmont Dental always ensure that the dental crowns they provide have a long life!
