Have you ever heard of the old saying, “A team is only as strong as its weakest link?” This true statement even applies to dentistry. Essentially, your teeth are individual players on your smile’s “team.” When one fails or if it needs repair, the whole smile suffers until you receive the necessary treatment.
In many cases, damaged teeth can be repaired with a dental crown. If you’re not sure about dental crowns and how they can help you, this post from one of our dental professionals at Silver Creek Dentistry can help you understand how you can benefit from dental crowns for decades!
What is a dental crown?
Essentially, a dental crown is crafted from high-quality dental materials to cover the damaged tooth. Usually, the dental crown will be tooth-colored so that it blends naturally with your smile. One of our dental professionals may recommend getting a dental crown if you need it to:
- Restore a large area of decay that’s too severe for a filling.
- Protecting a weak tooth from the threat of fracture.
- Give a discolored tooth an easy makeover.
- Restore a tooth that’s undergone root canal therapy.
- Rebuild the structure of a badly injured or fractured tooth.
- Attach it to a dental implant.
The Lifespan of Dental Crowns
With all the ways dental crowns can help you repair your smile, it’s important to understand how you can make them last up to 30 years…or longer! The best way to care for your crown is by combining routine visits with one of our dental professionals at Silver Creek Dentistry and proper dental care at home. Here are some helpful tips for home care:
- Brush your teeth twice a day.
- Floss every day.
- Stay aware of what you are eating.
- Eating especially hard foods such as hard candies or chewing ice could cause breakage.
Foods to Avoid with Dental Crowns
As mentioned above, the foods you eat can determine how long your dental crowns last. These foods can damage your temporary crown:
- Hard candies
- Nuts
- Crunchy fresh vegetables (carrots, broccoli, etc.)
- Sticky desserts
- Chewing gum
It only takes a little while to get adjusted to having a tooth repaired with a dental crown, but initially, there are some foods that can make your adjustment harder to deal with. Although these substances will not harm your dental restoration, if you feel uncomfortable eating them, try to eliminate them from your diet—at least while you get used to your newly repaired tooth:
- Hot foods like soup or coffee can cause teeth with crowns to feel sensitive, especially if your dentist recommended the dental crown because you experienced gum recession.
- Sugary foods and sticky candy should be avoided for the benefit of your smile in the first place, but especially when you have dental crowns. The sugar can cause decay around or beneath your crown. Also, sticky foods can damage your dental crowns.
- Cold foods like ice cream can trigger sensitivity the same way that hot foods can.
With these helpful tips and tricks, you’ll be able to extend the life of your dental crown for a stabilized, complete smile.
About Our Office
Here at Silver Creek Dentistry, we offer a wide variety of ways to help you fix and maintain healthy smiles. Whether you need a simple dental crown or more severe dental work, we’re committed to providing comprehensive, effective care. If you ever need advice on how to take care of your smile, especially after you’ve received a restoration, feel free to call our helpful office team.