San Ramon Cosmetic Dentistry Blog | Sean Michael Anderson, D.D.S.

Molded and shaded to match adjacent teeth, porcelain crowns are caps placed over dental implants or on top of teeth that have been severely damaged by decay or trauma. Porcelain crowns restore damaged teeth to their full functionality, making eating, biting, and talking much easier than it was before the tooth was capped.

Life Expectancy of Porcelain Crowns

Like most dental work, the life of your porcelain crown relies heavily on the care you take of it. Proper oral hygiene and regular dental visits will both work to ensure your crown lasts for its entire life expectancy. The average crown lasts for ten years. In some cases crowns may last for as little as five, or as long as 15 years, but it is important to remember that porcelain crowns are not a permanent fix, and will eventually need to be replaced.

Common Reasons to Replace Porcelain Crowns

Common causes that require porcelain crowns to be replaced include:

• General use has caused the crown to wear down
• The crown has broken
• Decay has formed at the base of the crown
• The crown has dulled or become aesthetically objectionable

All-porcelain crowns do not share the same aesthetic issues as metal/porcelain composites, but can still grey or stain over time. On the other hand, porcelain maintains its sheen and reflects light in the same way as your surrounding teeth, providing a natural, seamless smile during their lifetime.

If you live in San Ramon, Danville, or Livermore, California and are suffering from missing or chipped teeth, or you need to have existing dental crowns replaced, please contact experienced cosmetic dentist, Dr. Sean Anderson for a free consultation.