What Causes Damaged Fillings and Crowns?
While dental crowns and fillings are quite durable, they will not last forever. Like your natural teeth, regular wear and tear can take their toll on your dental restorations over time. Various other factors can lead to serious damage to your restorations, which is something we go over with patients at our Canton restorative dentistry practice.
We'd like to use this blog post to consider the lifespan of your average dental filling and crown. We'll look at what can damage these restorations and what options are available for repair and replacement.
How Long Will Dental Fillings and Crowns Last?
In general, dental fillings and crowns will last for about 10 to 15 years with good oral hygiene. At about the 10-year mark you'll want to consider having your crowns or fillings replaced. If they're damaged sooner than 10 years, you'll need to get your restorations replaced sooner.
Natural Wear and Tear Can Do Damage to Restorations
As we noted above, the natural wear and tear your teeth experience on a daily basis can take their toll on your dental restorations. Just biting and chewing means steady damage to the structure of the fillings and crowns. Thankfully your restorations are very sturdy, so it takes a while for day-to-day activities to do damage.
Injuries to the Mouth Can Damage Restorations
If you sustain a strong blow to the head, face, or mouth, this can lead to the damage of a dental filling or dental crown. These injuries may occur through various means, including:
- Slips and falls
- Auto accidents
- Sports injuries
- Physical altercations
While not always an option, it's a good idea to wear head, face, and mouth protection when practical.
Teeth Grinding (Bruxism) and Its Effect on Dental Restorations
Teeth grinding refers to the clenching, gnashing, and shifting of the teeth during sleep. This can cause a lot of strain on your natural teeth a your jaw joint. It should come as no surprise that teeth grinding can affect your dental fillings and crowns as well. Teeth grinding can be addressed by getting a night guard made. This little retainer prevents direct contact between the teeth, minimizing damage.
The Damaged Done by Chewing or Biting on Hard Objects
We've all heard the horror stories: someone is at the movies have popcorn, when all of a sudden they bit down on an unpopped kernel. This leads to a tooth fracture, and it can also lead to a damaged dental restoration. The same thing can occur with other food items if you happen to chomp down on a bone or some unexpected foreign object.
Tooth Decay Around the Dental Restorations
Sometimes the problem isn't damage to the filling or crown but rather damage around the restoration. Tooth decay, acidic erosion, and fractures can affect the tooth structure around your restoration. In order to fix these problems, the dental restoration needs to be removed and replaced.
Learn More About Restorative Dentistry
For more information about repairing fillings and crowns, and how to best maintain your dental restorations, be sure to contact our cosmetic and restorative dentistry center today. Our team is here to help you smile and feel great about your dental health.
