How Common Is Dental Crown Replacement?

The time and effort that go into fitting a dental crown suggest a permanent restoration. Maybe it is the fact that installing a dental crown often requires multiple dentist visits. It could be the permanence that comes with the removal of enamel before the placement of a crown. Dental crowns that sit on dental implants also seem permanent.

This raises the question: are dental crowns supposed to be permanent or not? Also, how often do dentists end up replacing their patients’ dental caps?

The dental crown: a brief explainer

A dental crown is a prosthetic that looks like the visible part of a tooth, hence its name. Dental caps are hollow on the inside, which allows them to act as a sheath for the underlying tooth. A dentist will make a mold of their patient’s tooth and use the impression as a blueprint for the dental cap.

The end product is a custom restoration with a hollow space that is a perfect fit for the tooth it sheaths. Some dentists have in-office milling machines that can fabricate same-day crowns. Many more dentists send impressions of their patient's teeth to dental labs. These labs create the crowns by hand or machine. The dental lab option requires a patient to make at least two visits to the dentist.

Does the effort it takes to get a dental crown pay off in terms of durability? A dental cap can last anywhere from fifteen years to a lifetime. However, there are cases where a dental crown lasts only a few years. Here is what determines how long a crown remains in perfect condition:

1. The type of crown

The material that goes into the making of a crown informs how long the crown lasts. Crowns made of composite resin are affordable, but there are limitations to their toughness and lifespan. A porcelain dental cap can last just about fifteen years. A gold crown can last a lifetime under the right circumstances.

2. The oral health and oral habits of the wearer

Dental crowns form protective barriers against injury and infection, but only to a degree. Take the example of a patient that experiences a failed root canal. A dentist will need to remove the patient’s crown to treat the problem tooth. The dentist may reuse the crown, or they may need to place a new crown.

3. Injury and breakage

A blow to the mouth can damage the crown as well as the tooth it sits on. Extensive damage to the structure of the crown will mean that the patient gets a new crown.

4. Changes in the mouth due to aging

Age changes the structures that anchor the natural teeth. As an example, gum recession can change the fit of a dental crown. A dentist would advise a patient who experiences this type of change to get a new crown.