Porcelain and ceramic dental crowns serve a dual purpose: they protect your damaged tooth while also enhancing the overall appearance of your smile. Although ceramic is extremely durable, it’s not “invincible”. You’ll still need to give your new crowns a bit of extra TLC to help them last as long as possible.
Avoid Abrasives
Whether it’s the occasional baking soda or a gritty-textured toothpaste, micro-abrasives can — over time — start to scratch the surfaces of your dental crowns or other restorations (including tooth enamel.) In time, all of those tiny scratches can accumulate stains and make your crown look discolored.
Pay Attention to the Margins
You’ll want to carefully clean around the edges of your crown, just next to your gums, at least twice a day. But extremely gently! By keeping that area as clean as possible, you’ll limit tartar buildup or new decay around your crown. Also, it will keep the gums healthier so that the gumlines stay up higher on the tooth and don’t start to recede. Just be warned, brushing too aggressively can cause gum recession too.
Wear a Nightguard if You Clench and Grind Your Teeth
Excessive clenching and grinding (bruxism) can cause the porcelain on your dental crown to flake off, fracture, or give out altogether. Wearing a protective nightguard will save your entire smile, as well as your dental work.
Use Floss or a Water Flosser
Depending on your preferences and what works best, clean around your new crown once a day with traditional floss or a water flosser.
Aesthetic & Implant Dentistry of Atlanta is committed to quality restorations that enhance your smile for the years to come. Have questions? Contact us today for an appointment.
