Do you need to know how to take care of dental crowns? Whether you already have dental crowns or are considering investing in your oral health, it’s important to know how to keep your crowns strong and beautiful.
Learn everything you need to know about getting and taking care of dental crowns in Palm Beach Gardens with Mark L. Civin, D.D.S., P.A., your local dental care provider.
What Are Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are an oral treatment that addresses unique health needs and reduces the likelihood of a tooth extraction. Your dentist will use materials like composite resin or porcelain ceramic to create a crown that matches your teeth in color, shape, and size, creating a more natural look.
Your dentist will prepare the problem tooth or teeth and use a long-lasting dental-grade adhesive technique to help prolong the life of the new dental crown(s).
Why You Might Need a Dental Crown
Your oral health and sense of confidence can suffer when your teeth begin to show signs of cavities, breaks, or discoloration. Dental crowns help address issues that simple fillings are not able to fix. Some of the most common reasons you might need a crown will include:
- Restoring a broken or worn-down tooth
- Preventing tooth decay
- Holding a cracked tooth together
- Covering stained teeth
- Improving the appearance of your teeth
Your crowns will need the proper care to ensure they last and remain aesthetically pleasing.
Tips for Taking Care of Dental Crowns
Knowing how to take care of dental crowns is important. By keeping the following tips in mind, you can improve oral hygiene and worry less about the state of your crowns.
1. Maintain Daily Brushing and Flossing
Even with a dental crown, you will still need to brush and floss every day to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. By continuing or improving your oral hygiene schedule, you can help protect your crown from damage and extend its lifespan up to 15 years.
Brushing and flossing remove food particles from any crevices in your mouth, including the point where your crown and natural tooth meet, to keep your mouth healthy and comfortable. Oral issues like tooth decay can weaken the natural tooth and loosen the crown over time.
2. Avoid Sticky and Hard Foods and Snacks
Oral treatments, including dental crowns, will often require a bit of a change to your diet and other habits. While we understand that chewing ice may be your favorite way to beat the heat, crunching down on hard foods, including ice and things like hard candies or taffies, can crack the crown or pull the dental crown away from your natural tooth. Depending on the extent of the damage, you are likely to experience discomfort or pain and may need to have a dentist replace the crown.
3. Leave Bad Habits Behind
You might be putting your dental crown at risk if you have habits like chewing and biting your nails or opening packages with your teeth. Behaviors like these will contribute to cracking, breaking, or pulling the crown off of the natural tooth.
It’s also important to use oral safety tools like mouthguards when you participate in sports to prevent or minimize potential damage to your teeth from heavy impacts.
Ask Our Office About Dental Crowns Today
Whether you have a crown that needs replacing or are considering getting dental crowns to address issues with your natural teeth, ask Mark Civin, D.D.S., about the options that are best for your oral health in Palm Beach Gardens.
With a better understanding of how to take care of dental crowns, you can take better control of your oral health and regain a confident smile. Take the next step and call (561) 624-2224 to book an appointment for new crowns in Palm Beach Gardens with Mark L. Civin, D.D.S., P.A. Learn more now.