“How long do porcelain crowns last?”

That is a relative question. It depends on how well the crown was done and how well you take care of it. A crown needs to be taken care of 2X as much as a natural tooth. Meticulous brushing, flossing, use of water pik. Generally speaking a well done crown should last a minimum of 5 years and you really should get 10 plus years of service out of that crown.

Porcelain crowns are designed to last a lifetime if they are cared for properly. There are some major factors that can impact this expectation. The skill of the dentist preparing the tooth for the crown is the most important factor. Poor preparation of the crown means an ill-fitting crown and ultimately failure. The quality of the materials used is also important. Cheap materials for production of the crown or cementing the crown will result in premature failure of the crown. Finally, poor home care of the crown can result in recurrent cavities around the crown and ultimately failure of the crown. Bottom line is you get what you pay for so don't go for the cheapest crown out there. Chances are they are cheaper because they are not spending the right amount of time on the preparation or they are using cut rate labs or material. Good Luck!

The question of how a dental treatment last is like asking for the fountain of youth. Research has shown that the average crown lasts about 5 years. However, they do last longer. Your question has to do with the kind of material, the condition of the underlying core, other parafunctional habits, oral hygiene habits ... ad infinitum. But to make it simple, average is around 5-20 years.

T. Huynh, DMD, FICOI