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Question:
Is there a rule of thumb for how long a crown should last and is the life of a crown due soley to oral hygene, or with the best of care can a cavity still occur beneath it?
I am nearing retirement and my dentist noticed a shadow (decay) under a crown on my x-rays. So, we will be replacing that crown, but as we talked, he mentioned that we should consider replacing 3 additional crowns soley because they are between 15 and 20 years old. Is this a good idea?
The reason we are even considering the additional 3 crowns is that I currently have 50% insurance coverage on crowns and will not have insurance at all after retirement. ...Visitor from MN
Answer:
These are some good questions. There is no rule of thumb for how long a crown should last.
The factors involved with longevity are the specific materials used, the type of crown, the quality of the laboratory engaged in the manufacture, the competence of the dentist and the level of cooperation the patient was able to exhibit during the procedure.
Gold crowns will outlive porcelain crowns three to one. Insurance companies, which are not known for their generosity, will pay for a new crown in five years.
Different studies indicate crowns lasting from 4-10 years depending again on the materials and the study. Certainly excellent oral hygiene can improve the life expectancy, however everything man makes fails. Car tires, shoes, stereos and yes dental repairs wear out.
Dental restorations are subjected to 24/7 of being bathed in salvia, pushed and shoved on and generally used surrounded by bacteria just waiting for their turn at further destruction.
Relative to your second question, just because something is old does not mean it needs to be replaced. A good basic tenet is: if it is not broken do not fix it. If there is still wear left on the tires of your car that is not compelling reason to replace them prematurely unless you are extremely proactive.
Editorial Staff
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