How Long Do Crowns and Bridges Last? What to Expect

Your daily decisions have a significant impact on your oral health. This is especially true if you’ve invested in dental restorations like crowns and bridges.

While these restorations are designed to last, your lifestyle choices can significantly influence their longevity.

The Role of Diet in the Lifespan of Crowns and Bridges

Your diet doesn’t just affect your waistline—it also directly impacts the durability of your dental restorations. Certain foods can either protect or damage your crowns and bridges and being aware of what you consume can make a significant difference.

• Hard and Crunchy Foods: Foods like nuts, hard candies, and even raw vegetables like carrots can put excessive pressure on your crowns and bridges. Biting down on these hard items can lead to cracks, chips, or even complete breakage. While you don’t have to avoid these foods entirely, it’s essential to be cautious and avoid using your crowned or bridged teeth as the primary point of contact.
• Sticky Foods: Sticky foods like caramel, taffy, and gummy candies can adhere to your crowns and bridges, potentially pulling them loose or causing them to shift. These foods also increase the risk of decay by trapping sugar against your teeth and gums.
• Sugary and Acidic Foods: High-sugar diets can lead to decay around the edges of crowns and bridges, especially if plaque isn’t effectively removed. Other acidic foods and beverages, such as oranges, lemons, and Coca-Cola, also cause havoc on natural teeth and the cementum, making it lose its bond with the tooth and the restoration.
• Alcohol and Tobacco: These tooth replacements, crowns, and bridges are known to last 5-10 years on average; however, habits such as excessive alcohol drinking and tobacco use can shorten this span. For instance, alcohol causes dryness of the mouth, which increases plaque formation and increases the risk of periodontal diseases; tobacco results in retraction of the gums and deterioration of the tooth structure.

Dietary Tips for Protecting Your Crowns and Bridges:

• Choose milder things that will not damage the teeth, in this case, the teeth of the spectators.
• Eat foods with calcium phosphates, such as dairy products and green leafy vegetables, to strengthen your teeth and bones.
• You can also note that when you eat sugary food or acidic fruits, you should always drink water and gargle to decrease their effect.
• Do not consume alcohol or use tobacco in moderation to preserve the health of your crowns and bridges.

The Impact of Physical Activity on Dental Restorations

Maintaining an active lifestyle is essential to health, but some physical activities can pose risks to your crowns and bridges if proper precautions aren’t taken.

• Contact Sports: If you participate in sports like football, boxing, or hockey, your dental restorations are at a higher risk of injury. A direct blow to the mouth can damage or dislodge a crown or bridge, leading to costly repairs or replacements. Wearing a custom-fitted mouthguard is essential for protecting your teeth and restorations during these activities.
• Teeth Grinding During Exercise: Some people unconsciously clench or grind their teeth while lifting weights or engaging in intense physical activity. This habit, known as bruxism, can put significant stress on your crowns and bridges, leading to wear and potential fractures. Being mindful of this habit and considering a protective mouthguard for high-intensity workouts can help prevent damage.

Physical Activity Tips for Protecting Your Crowns and Bridges:

• Always wear a mouthguard during contact sports to shield your teeth from injury.
• If you notice that you grind your teeth during exercise, talk to your dentist about getting a custom-fitted night guard that you can use during workouts.
• Be aware of your jaw tension during physical activities and consciously relax when possible.

Stress and Its Effects on Crowns and Bridges

You might not immediately connect stress with the health of your dental restorations, but the link is more significant than you might think. Stress can manifest in various ways that negatively impact your crowns and bridges.

• Bruxism (Teeth Grinding): Stress is a leading cause of bruxism, which involves grinding or clenching teeth, often during sleep. Over time, this habit can wear down crowns and bridges, leading to cracks, chips, or even loosening them. Left untreated, bruxism can significantly shorten the lifespan of dental restorations.
• Neglecting Oral Hygiene: When stressed, it’s easy to let daily routines slide, including your oral hygiene habits. Lack of regular oral hygiene can result in plaque build-up, gum disease, and decay around your crowns and bridges, all of which can shorten their lifespan.

Stress Management Tips for Protecting Your Crowns and Bridges:

• Engaging in relaxation practices like yoga, meditation, or deep breathing can reduce stress and lower the chance of developing bruxism.
• Stay consistent with your oral hygiene routine, even during stressful times, to ensure your crowns and bridges remain in good condition.
• Consider investing in a night guard if you’re prone to grinding your teeth at night due to stress.

The Influence of Sleep Habits on Dental Restorations

Your sleeping patterns may also impact the lifespan of your crowns and bridges. Poor sleep can contribute to oral health issues that affect your dental restorations.

• Sleep Bruxism: As mentioned earlier, teeth grinding during sleep is a common issue that can significantly damage your crowns and bridges. Ensuring you get quality sleep and managing factors contributing to bruxism can help protect your restorations.
• Dry Mouth During Sleep: Certain medicines, mouth breathing, and sleep disorders can cause dry mouth, which increases the risk of decay around crowns and bridges. A lack of saliva can cause restorations to deteriorate more quickly because it is essential for neutralising acids and removing food particles.

Sleep Tips for Protecting Your Crowns and Bridges:

• Establish a calming nighttime routine to enhance your sleep quality and lower your risk of bruxism.
• Drink plenty of water during the day, and if you suffer from dry mouth at night, think about using a humidifier.
• Talk to your dentist regularly if you suspect sleep bruxism or wake up with a dry mouth, as these issues can be addressed with appropriate treatments or interventions.

The Role of Regular Dental Visits in Maintaining Restorations

While your lifestyle choices play a significant role in the longevity of your crowns and bridges, routine dental check-ups are essential for ongoing maintenance.

Your Cabramatta dentist can monitor the condition of your restorations, address any issues early on, and provide personalised advice on how to care for your specific situation.

Dental Visit Tips for Protecting Your Crowns and Bridges:

• Schedule regular check-ups and cleanings to ensure any potential problems with your crowns and bridges are caught early.
• Be proactive about discussing any lifestyle habits with your Cabramatta dentist so they can provide tailored advice on protecting your restorations.
• Follow your dentist’s recommendations for at-home care and any necessary protective devices, like mouthguards.

Crowns and Bridges Management in Cabramatta

Your lifestyle choices directly impact the longevity of your crowns and bridges.

Make an appointment with our dental professionals today to safeguard your investment.

Cabramatta Dental Care will help you identify habits that might compromise your restorations and provide personalised strategies to keep your smile strong for years.

Call (02) 9755 5300 or book an appointment online.

Visit us at 47 Arthur St in Cabramatta.