Exploring Dental Crowns: Materials, Durability, and Long-Term Benefits

Tooth loss affects over 120 million people in the United States. Dental crowns effectively preserve damaged teeth, saving you from future frustrations and oral health complications.

Whether you cracked a tooth in an accident or have a severely decayed tooth, a crown can help. As the most common tooth restoration option, dental crown procedures are minimally invasive and invite benefits that last for years.

Our expert team at Swinney Dental in Tyler, Texas, places natural-looking full and partial crowns to restore your teeth’s look and function.

Read on to learn about their materials, how long crowns last, and the advantages of this restoration option.

Dental crown materials

Technicians craft dental crowns using a variety of materials, including metal, porcelain, and resin. 

Metal crowns, made of chromium, gold, nickel, or palladium, only require a small amount of enamel removal and rarely chip or crack. 

Porcelain crowns look just like your natural teeth. They require a bit more enamel removal and chip a bit easier. 

While resin is the least durable, it’s often used to make temporary crowns, which are placed until the permanent one is ready.

Dental crown durability

Regardless of the type of dental crown you receive, you can expect it to last for some time. On average, crowns last for 5-15 years. With proper care, they may last even longer.

To help ensure that your crown lasts, consider these practices:

• Brushing your teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
• Flossing and rinsing with an antimicrobial mouthwash daily
• Limiting hard and sticky foods

If you’re concerned about crown discoloration, limit or avoid staining substances like red wine, coffee, black tea, and tobacco. If desired, you can have teeth whitening treatment for surrounding teeth, so they continue to match. While teeth whitening won't affect crown color, it won’t damage crown materials either. 

Long-term benefits of dental crowns

In addition to long-lasting protection, your crown preserves the underlying tooth and reduces the risks of decay. In doing so, a crown also lowers your risk for gum disease and potentially serious infections that may lead to the need for a root canal. 

Your crown may also greatly improve your chewing function. And natural looking crowns bring the added perk of enhancing your appearance. Many people feel more confident smiling once a porcelain crown is in place.

To learn more about dental crowns or get the tooth restoration care you need, schedule a consultation at Swinney Dental today. You can also set an appointment using our convenient online booking feature.