Caring for Your Dental Crowns: Tips for Longevity and Shine

Dental crowns are a cornerstone in restorative dentistry, offering aesthetic and functional benefits for patients. Whether you're safeguarding a tooth from further decay, restoring a damaged tooth, or enhancing your smile's appearance, the right dental crown can make a significant difference. At The Smile Suite, our preference for zirconia crowns underscores our commitment to combining strength, biocompatibility, and beauty in our dental solutions. Here's how you can ensure your dental crowns retain their longevity and shine.

Understanding Dental Crown Types and Procedures

A Dental Porcelain Crown is more than just a cap for your tooth; it's a custom-made restoration designed to fully encase a compromised tooth, restoring its size, shape, and strength, while improving its overall appearance. Porcelain crowns, known for their natural look, are often recommended for their aesthetic qualities, blending seamlessly with your natural teeth.

At The Smile Suite, we often choose zirconia crowns for their exceptional durability and aesthetic appeal. Zirconia, a type of ceramic, is renowned for its strength, making it an ideal choice for crowns. It's also highly biocompatible, ensuring that your crown not only looks great but is also comfortable and safe for long-term wear.

When Are Porcelain Crowns Needed?

Porcelain crowns are versatile dental restorations recommended for various reasons:

• Protection: They shield a tooth from decay or prevent a weak tooth from breaking.
  
  
• Repair: Crowns restore broken, damaged, or worn-down teeth.
  
  
• Cosmetic Enhancements: They cover misshapen, discolored teeth, and dental implants or are used for cosmetic modifications.
  
  
• Structural Support: Crowns can hold together a cracked tooth, cover a tooth with a large filling, or hold a dental bridge in place.
  
  

For children, while the use of crowns is less common, stainless steel crowns may be recommended in specific cases to protect a tooth that's at high risk for decay or to support a tooth that can't be repaired with a filling.

Caring for Your Dental Crowns

To ensure your dental crowns last and continue to look their best, consider these essential care tips:

1. Maintain Good Oral Hygiene: Brush at least twice a day and floss daily. While crowns can't decay, the underlying tooth can; proper hygiene helps prevent decay at the crown's edges.
   
   
2. Use the Right Tools: Soft-bristled toothbrushes and non-abrasive toothpaste are ideal for cleaning crowns without scratching their surface.
   
   
3. Regular Dental Check-Ups: Routine visits to The Smile Suite allow us to monitor your crowns and overall dental health, making adjustments as needed.
   
   
4. Avoid Hard Foods: While zirconia crowns are tough, it's wise to avoid chewing on hard objects (like ice or hard candy) that could damage the crown.
   
   
5. Protect Your Teeth: If you grind your teeth at night, consider getting a night guard to protect both your natural teeth and crowns from unnecessary pressure.
   
   
6. Limit Staining Substances: Coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco can stain crowns over time. Limiting these substances or brushing after their consumption can help maintain the crown's color.

By following these care tips, your dental crowns can serve as a durable, functional, and aesthetic solution for many years. At The Smile Suite, we're committed to providing you with crowns that not only look natural and beautiful but are also made to last. If you have any questions about your crowns or are considering getting a crown, reach out to us for a consultation. Let us help you achieve and maintain a smile that's both healthy and radiant.