Dental crowns aren’t just for looks — they improve the form and function of your teeth. Crowns can protect your tooth after a root canal, strengthen a cracked tooth, or enhance the appearance of a misshapen or discolored tooth.
Dr. Mehrnoosh Darj and her dedicated team at Dr. Darj Dental understand that a crown can both improve your oral health and boost your self-esteem. Our porcelain dental crowns are custom-made to fit into your mouth, matching the shape and color of your natural teeth.
With the right care, your dental crown can last 10 or more years. Dr. Darj has created this guide so you can maximize the life for your dental crown.
A dental crown, sometimes called a cap, is a prosthetic tooth. At Dr. Darj Dental, we create your crown using porcelain, an extremely strong material that can be shade-matched to seamlessly blend in with your natural teeth — no one can tell if you have a crown or not!
Although porcelain is strong, it’s still important to take good care of your crown. Thankfully, it’s much like taking care of your natural teeth. Here are our top five tips to help you care for your dental crown.
Brushing a dental crown is as easy as brushing your natural teeth. Per American Dental Association guidelines, be sure to:
It may be tempting to use a brush with hard bristles, but more abrasion doesn't necessarily make your teeth cleaner. In fact, brushing too vigorously can damage your gums and enamel. Instead, use a brush with soft bristles, which is also good for your crown.
Hard foods can chip or crack your natural teeth, and they can also chip porcelain crowns. Avoid hard foods like popcorn kernels, hard candies, and ice cubes. Sticky, hard candies can be especially problematic for oral appliances.
Also, avoid chewing on non-food items such as pen caps and fingernails. Should you feel the urge to chew, try substituting with a piece of sugar-free gum. Chewing gum has the added benefit of reducing your risk of cavities.
It may be tempting to use your teeth to open a package or crack open a nut, but this can damage your crown — or even fracture your tooth. If you’re guilty of this habit, try to create new habits going forward.
Purchase a metal nutcracker, or buy shelled nuts. Keep a spare pair of scissors near your desk for opening packages. Your teeth may be convenient, but they weren’t designed to open plastic packages or crack open nuts.
Flossing removes the plaque, bacteria, and debris from in between your teeth where brushing alone can’t reach. The ADA recommends flossing once per day, but if you have food stuck between your teeth, you can floss more often.
There are several flossing tools available to make flossing easier. This includes pre-threaded flossers, water flossers, and waxed floss that slides more easily between teeth.
Flossing around your crown is no different from flossing around a natural tooth. If you have a bridge, be sure to floss under the bridge.
One of the best ways to take care of your teeth is to stay proactive. During your regularly scheduled dental visits, we can spot any potential problems that require swift treatment. It’s better to fix any problem areas as soon as possible before small issues become big issues.
At Dr. Darj Dental, we know that a dental crown must be beautiful, and it must be functional. To learn more about crowns or to schedule an appointment at our office in El Paso, Texas, call 915-213-4097 or book online.
