How Can I Protect My Tooth After Getting a Crown?
Mar 12, 2025
If you’ve decided to get a new dental crown, you’re probably excited at the prospect of a renewed and restored smile. You might also be thinking of what to do to protect your new crown and how to get the most out of your dental restoration.
At Llanos Dental Group in Miami Lakes, Florida, Laura Llanos, DMD, offers durable and natural-looking dental crowns. With the right care, your new crown can last as many as 30 years.
A dental crown is created to cover a portion of your natural tooth tissue with an artificial material. It serves to preserve your bite and smile while leaving the root portion of your natural tooth in place.
Dental crowns are a good treatment option for the following conditions:
Dental crowns are also used to anchor a dental bridge, which uses an artificial tooth or teeth to fill a gap of missing teeth.
While your crown can’t decay, the crown only covers most of your visible natural tooth tissue. There is a small line of tooth tissue at the gum line that isn’t fully covered by a new crown.
This tissue can absolutely decay and must be cared for in the same way as the rest of your natural teeth.
An excellent brushing and flossing routine removes food particles, plaque, and bacteria from the surface of your teeth. This reduces your risk of decay and helps keep your teeth healthy.
If you notice any changes in how your dental crown fits or feels, schedule a visit at Llanos Dental Group immediately. While crowns are incredibly durable, they can become damaged or dislodged in certain circumstances, allowing bacteria to enter spaces between the crown and your natural tooth tissue.
To avoid damaging your crown, you need to follow the same guidelines for protecting your natural teeth. This begins with avoiding food that places excess strain or pressure on your teeth.
Hard and overly sticky candy is a prime culprit. Many people who turn to Llanos Dental Group for urgent dental care have damaged a tooth while enjoying taffy, toffee, or biting down on hard candies.
Chewing ice is another habit that can place excessive strain on your teeth or crown. Using your teeth to open packages or hold items in place are other common causes of damage.
If you find yourself chewing on a pencil or other non-food item during times of stress or concentration, take steps to embrace a different coping mechanism that doesn’t threaten your dental health.
Finally, people who experience bruxism (teeth grinding) are at risk of damaging their dental crown, as well as their other teeth. If you grind your teeth during sleep, there are treatments that can help, including wearing a custom-fitted night guard to protect your teeth.
When you arrive for your routine dental exams, Dr. Llanos checks your teeth for signs of decay or other problems. This includes your dental crown.
Your visit also includes a professional teeth cleaning, which removes all traces of plaque and tartar from your teeth. Even the area beneath the gum line gets clean, helping avoid dental decay and gum disease.
Coming in every six months for your dental exam ensures that Dr. Llanos has a chance to catch issues before they become serious problems. These visits are short and enjoyable, so there’s no reason to postpone this essential part of your dental health.
If you have additional questions or concerns about how to properly care for your new dental crown, book a visit at Llanos Dental Group. Our practice offers an easy online booking option, or you can always call the office to schedule a visit. You can even book via text at 305-707-7021.