What Are Dental Crowns Made From?
Dental crowns can be made from several materials, including different types of ceramic, porcelain, metal alloys, or combinations of materials.
Each option has different characteristics related to appearance, strength, wear, and how it interacts with the opposing teeth.
The appropriate material depends on factors such as:
- Where the tooth is located
- How visible it is when you smile
- The amount of biting force in that area
- The amount of natural tooth remaining
- Your bite and grinding or clenching habits
- Existing dental restorations
The crown materials available can vary between dental practices. Your dentist can explain the options appropriate for your tooth.
Do You Need a Crown After a Root Canal?
Teeth that have received root canal treatment often require a final restoration to protect the remaining tooth structure.
Back teeth such as molars and premolars commonly receive crowns because they experience substantial forces during chewing and may be more vulnerable to fracture after significant structural loss.
However, a crown is not automatically required after every root canal. The appropriate restoration depends on the location of the tooth, how much healthy structure remains, and how the tooth will function.
How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?
Dental crowns are intended to provide long-term function, but they do not last indefinitely.
How long a crown lasts depends on factors such as the material, the condition of the supporting tooth, oral hygiene, your bite, diet, and habits such as clenching or grinding.
Over time, a crown can wear, chip, fracture, loosen, or develop problems around its edges. Changes to the tooth underneath can also affect the restoration.
Regular dental examinations allow your dentist to monitor the crown and the supporting tooth for signs of wear or other concerns.
Can You Get a Cavity Under a Crown?
Yes. The crown itself cannot develop tooth decay, but the natural tooth underneath it can.
The area where the crown meets the tooth is particularly important to keep clean. Plaque that remains around the crown margin can contribute to decay and gum inflammation.
Brush normally, clean between your teeth every day, and attend regular dental examinations and cleanings.
If decay develops underneath or around a crown, the restoration may need to be removed or replaced so the tooth can be treated.
What Should You Do if a Crown Comes Loose or Breaks?
A crown can occasionally loosen, chip, or come off.
If this happens, keep the crown if you can find it and contact your dental office. Avoid chewing on the affected tooth until it has been assessed, particularly if the remaining tooth structure feels weak or sensitive.
Do not assume that a loose crown simply needs to be cemented back into place. Your dentist needs to examine the tooth and restoration to determine why the crown became loose and whether either has been damaged.
Protect and Restore a Damaged Tooth
When a tooth has lost a significant amount of healthy structure, a crown can provide additional protection while allowing the natural tooth to remain in place.
Contact our dental team if you have a broken or weakened tooth, a damaged existing crown, or have been told that a tooth may need more protection than a filling can provide.
