Your crown represents an investment in restoring the form and function of a tooth that has lost a significant amount enamel due to damage or decay. Even though crown materials like gold, base metals and porcelain are not subject to tooth decay, the crown will still require daily oral hygiene care.
Bacteria in your mouth can exploit food particles and residual sugar to develop into a film of plaque. If plaque is not removed, it will harden into tartar and tartar at the gum line is one of the primary causes of gum disease.
Advanced gum disease, such as periodontitis can cause your gums to pull back from your teeth exposing pockets where bacterial infection can attack the gums and the roots of the abutment. It can also expose the edge of the crown to bacterial invasion which can cause the cement to fail. The infection can even cause a loss of material in the bones that anchor your crown’s abutment to your jaw.
Brushing the crown and your natural teeth twice a day with abrasive toothpaste will help remove food particles and plaque. This should be followed up by a thorough flossing session which includes flossing along the gum line.
A Porcelain crown is color matched to your smile. The enamel of your natural teeth stains deeper than porcelain. So it’s a you should be mindful of things like tobacco use as well as staining foods and beverages.
Visiting your dentist twice a year for your routine cleaning and checkup will help maintain gum health and polish away surface staining before it can progress to the point where it causes matching issues.
If you have questions about caring for your crown please feel free to call us at 440-884-9898 to schedule an appointment.