Oral Care Tips for Crown Restorations

                                                                         

Teeth are restored with dental crown restorations for different reasons.  It may be that teeth are broken, damaged by decay, cracked, misshapen, or badly discolored. Crown restorations can be made of all metal, all ceramic, and porcelain fused to metal. A common question from some patients when a crown restoration is recommended by their dentist is the longevity of the crown.  The longevity largely weighs on their oral hygiene, oral habits and regular checkups with their dentists.  Here are some of the oral care tips for the crown restorations:

1.     Practice good oral hygiene  

·       Brush 2x per day and floss daily

-use toothpaste with fluoride

-use antibacterial mouth wash

·       Use interdental cleaners to help remove debris & interproximal dental plaque that collects between teeth. They clean hard to reach tooth surfaces and reduce the susceptibility of gum disease and tooth decay

- interdental brushes-clean spaces between teeth

- rubber tips-massage the gums and help to dislodge food particles and plaque to clean between the teeth

       2.     Practice good oral habits

·       Avoid grinding teeth, biting nails, chewing on ice, eating sticky or hard foods, and using teeth to open packages.  These habits can potentially lead to loosening crown restorations or fracturing the porcelain of the crown.

·       Grinding teeth-talk to the dentist to find out the cause of the habit.  The causes may be stress related, muscle tension or malocclusion.

3.     Regular Dental checkups   

·       Dental checkups and cleaning at least 2 times per year

·       Dental x-rays to check on the crowns as recommended by the dentist

Practice good oral hygiene, good oral habits and visit your dentist for checkups are keys to ensure the longevity of your dental crowns.  Talk to your Glendora Dentist about these oral care tips.

Dr. Anna Lee is a general & cosmetic dentist in Glendora, CA.  If you have any questions about the types of crown restorations or need some advice on keeping the crown restorations in your mouth as long as possible, please call for a FREE consultation at 626-335-5114. You can visit us at www.annaleedds.com.