You spent good money on your crown. You went for an implant because you wanted something permanent. You invested in veneers because you care about your smile. Now you’re probably thinking, “How long will these dental restorations actually last, and what am I supposed to do to help make that happen?” Understanding long-term success rates and maintenance tips for Charlotte, NC patients, these are the right questions to protect your investment for the long haul.
The short answer is, it comes down to two factors, each of which is crucial. Your long-term dental restoration results come from your dental team consistently doing the clinical checks and checks you can consistently do at home in daily care. The two don’t work if one of them is missing. A patient can brush and floss like a champion and still miss problems if they never show up for check-ups, where imaging finds them. A patient can be a model appointment-keeper and still watch their restoration fail prematurely if they never do their home care right.
If you are a patient looking at the data on long-term restorations and how to keep them looking good for a long time, then this page will explain exactly how to care for them. You can find a page for your specific treatment type if you already have implants, veneers, or crowns. You can also find data-driven answers for what dental restorations to choose if you are weighing your options now. We created this guide to tell you what the science really says about longevity and the day-to-day care you need to make your dental restoration last as long as humanly possible.
This is one of the top dental myths we bust here. If you are one of the many patients who believe maintenance appointments are a luxury, and not a requirement, once your restoration is installed, then you are part of the problem that will end up being a leading cause of restoration failure. You can see a restoration in the mirror and not realize what has broken. A crown can appear to fit well and cause no problems, while bacteria have entered the gap at its margin. An implant can feel strong and stable in your mouth, while your bone silently breaks down around its base. We explain here what dental research has found about longevity and failure rates, and exactly what you can do to get what you really need from your dental restoration work.
We offer personalized care for every smile to all our patients from Fourth Ward Dentistry, 620 N Church St., in the Fourth Ward of Charlotte. We make ourselves an easy place for you to return, right in Uptown.
Long-Term Success Rates For Dental Restorations: What Charlotte Patients Should Know
Dental implants have better research for their lifespan than any other dental work. They last longer than other dental restorations when cared for properly and monitored regularly in your dental chair. The American Academy of Implant Dentistry reports that implants have more than 95 percent success rates, even 10 years after being placed and cared for with regular maintenance. Some studies on dental implants followed people for up to 20 years and even found long-term success with many patients if they never developed peri-implantitis.
Crowns usually last 10 to 15 years, but there is a lot of variance in what determines how many years this might last for a given patient. Patients who grind their teeth, called bruxism, have a crown’s life expectancy nearly cut in half. The American Dental Association writes, “The life expectancy of a crown depends in large part on how healthy the remaining tooth structure is and on how closely the original crown fit.”
Veneers are a bit different. While a porcelain veneer will likely last 10 to 20 years, similar to crowns and implants, you cannot fix them like you can crowns. If one breaks, then you will need a new veneer. That’s why it’s so important for patients to avoid habits that may put stress on a veneer.
What Do We Mean By “Survival Rate”?
A restoration that has “survived” is in place and functioning, but survival is not the same as success. For example, a crown may still be in the mouth, yet show early signs of margin breakdown, which only an x-ray will pick up. An implant may still be in place and supporting the crown, but there may be bone loss, which, if discovered early, requires a little treatment, while if it’s discovered late, it will require a bit of surgery, and even implant removal. Success means that the restoration is in place and functioning, that the bone and gum surrounding the restoration are stable, and that the bite hasn’t shifted.
Another key variable is overall health. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), patients with diabetes are more prone to complications due to problems with healing and infection. Patients with a history of periodontal disease are at higher risk for peri-implantitis (infection around implant tissue) throughout the life of the restoration.
Charlotte’s climate, a humid subtropical one, also poses special challenges you should be aware of. When we get into oak pollen season in the springtime and ragweed in the autumn in the Piedmont, a lot of patients tend to breathe through their mouths because of allergies. This causes drying of oral tissue and buildup of bacteria around the crowns and the collars of implants. So if you live in Dilworth or elsewhere in Charlotte, NC, seasonal issues are another reason why maintenance is important.
Knowing what these survival rates mean helps you set the right expectations. A restoration will most likely last decades if cared for properly and with regular monitoring. So, what does it mean to care for a restoration properly? The next section covers that topic in detail.
Daily Habits That Will Separate A 10-Year Restoration From A 25-Year One
The longest-lasting restorations tend to come from patients who follow a few simple daily rules. None of them requires equipment or takes a long time to implement. Just do it every day:
- Brushing technique around restoration margins: Brush with a soft-bristled brush angled 45 degrees toward your gumline, and this gets into the area where the crown, implant, or veneer meets the gum. Be careful not to be too hard on your teeth and gums. Brushing too hard damages your natural tooth enamel and can strip the gum tissue around the crown. Brush at least twice a day for two minutes.
- Flossing around implants and crowns: Normal floss is good for crowns and veneers, while you can use floss designed for implants or a water flosser for implants, which cleans around the abutment, the piece of the implant that the crown is attached to, better. Floss at least once every day. It is quite common for us to hear that we “floss on most days,” which is usually about two or three times a week. That is simply not adequate.
- Protecting your porcelain from stress. Chewing ice, biting into hard candies, utilizing your teeth as a tool to open things, and gnawing on pen tips all stress porcelain crowns and veneers in ways that they were not intended to endure. The micro-fractures build up over time until the damage is visible.
- Bruxism and nightguards. Teeth grinding is a very underdiagnosed issue regarding the health of any kind of restoration. Many patients are only grinding at night and are not even aware of this habit. Symptoms can manifest as a sore jaw in the morning, evidence of tooth wear, or headaches along the side of the temple. Stress can exacerbate this, so if you are changing jobs, having relationship trouble, or experiencing financial difficulties, this can increase the wear on your restorations. A night guard that has been properly fitted allows you to absorb and redirect these forces instead of damaging them. We view these as part of your maintenance regimen, not just a nice-to-have.
A lot of times, this is not known, but an individual with average home care who never misses their recall appointments will have better long-term results than someone who has perfect home care and misses their monitoring. Early detection prevents small problems from becoming significant. We can see marginal breakdown, early bone loss, and occlusal shift before there are any obvious symptoms, thanks to a Charlotte dentist and your hygienist.
Also, remember that prosthetic restorations will not accept fluoride from your tap water in the same way that your teeth do. Although the Charlotte water is fluoridated, this will not protect crowns, implants, and veneers as effectively as it does your teeth. However, our routine cleanings and monitoring can protect you in a very real and substantial way.
Let’s end on one more note here: Sweet tea and acidic beverages are very much part of life in the Carolinas. We aren’t asking you to stop drinking them, but know that a higher sugar concentration affects the tissues around your restorations, and rinsing your mouth with water after consuming an acidic drink will help minimize any damage to your restorations.
We know how busy life can get, and there are times when maintenance is missed. If your last recall appointment was a year or more ago, that is okay! You won’t be judged. NoDa patients come back after a transition in their lives all the time, and it is always good to see them.
Warning Signs To Seek Evaluation Before Your Next Recall Appointment
It is normal to have some changes after a tooth has had dental procedures performed. Mild sensitivity to pressure after a crown or other restoration is placed is not unusual. In fact, one would expect this in the first few weeks after a crown is placed, as your bite changes. This normally is temporary. On the other hand, if you suddenly have discomfort that was not present before in a tooth or it starts or becomes more severe months to years after the procedure, it is time to call. Reach out to our office right away if you’re seeing these red flags:
- Tooth sensitivity at a restored crown that doesn’t go away: You could have a breakdown in the crown margins, exposing the tooth to hot and cold, or the nerves in the tooth are inflamed.
- Something feels like clicking or moving when you bite near an implant area: Implants should be totally solid with no motion; this means the abutment connection is broken, or you have a failed implant integration.
- Gum recession visibly away from the crown margins: The receded gingiva allows your crown margin to be exposed, which looks bad and leads to plaque and bacteria.
- A veneer that feels rough or catches your floss like it shouldn’t: This is an indication of porcelain fracture, which will only get worse with time.
- A restorative swelling or tenderness of the gums to the touch: Soft tissue changes around restorations need to be assessed; this is how peri-implantitis gets so far advanced before a patient sees the problem. This is why we have intraoral imaging.
Don’t wait until your next recall appointment to call us; we offer same-day and emergency appointments for situations like these because early treatment is almost always much simpler than treating something that’s been neglected for months. Some people in University City and Charlotte will hesitate to call because they’re afraid of looking stupid for calling us over something “small.” There is no such thing as a “small” issue with restoring a smile, and your time in your chair is our priority. We want to know about small issues because that’s when they are easiest to fix, and because we want you to know that we don’t judge you for calling us about them.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, dental implants have 95 percent or higher survival rates at the 10-year mark, with many studies finding survival rates even past 20 years for those who regularly visit their dentist and don’t develop peri-implantitis. Regular professional monitoring paired with good at-home care is the most important component to the longevity of a dental implant. Patients with risk factors such as diabetes or past gum disease may require more frequent monitoring to maximize their chances of implant success.
If properly cared for, crowns generally last 10-15 years on average, but the average lifespan for each individual crown is highly individualized. Many people who have habits like night bruxism tend to wear out their crowns faster. Factors, including the health of the underlying tooth and the fit of the crown, also influence how long a crown can be expected to last. Regular monitoring of restorations is critical in detecting problems such as loose or failing margins before they require a crown replacement.
Ice chewing, biting down on hard candies or nuts, using your teeth to open packages or cans, and unmanaged bruxism can damage your restorations and result in broken crowns or veneers. Also, brushing too close to the restoration margins or brushing too inconsistently can allow bacteria to sit on the edges. See our Daily Habits section above for complete restoration care tips.
Yes. Bruxism (teeth grinding) is one of the most undiagnosed causes of restoration failures. The repeated force applied from grinding exceeds what your restoration can handle. Proper night guards can help alleviate those forces from impacting your restoration and help your restoration last longer. See our nightguard discussion in the Daily Habits section for more signs, solutions, and discussion of night guards.
Professional cleanings are critical to remove the bacteria that can accumulate despite diligent home care. They can also be helpful in monitoring for issues around the implant collar or the crown margins. Going too long between cleanings can allow plaque to become hard calculus that can irritate the gingiva, which may be a contributing factor for gingival recession or other issues. Additionally, recall appointments provide opportunities for imaging that can identify problems before they become symptomatic. See our Warning Signs section for signs that require prompt attention.
Yes. At Fourth Ward Dentistry, we document all restorations as baseline (including photographing them) and obtain appropriate imaging (x-ray) as necessary. This allows our provider to monitor your existing restorations for any issues. We receive a lot of new Charlotte patients who bring restorations placed by another office, and we are happy to be that provider of record for you.
We have an in-office Fourth Ward Family Dental Plan that covers preventive visits with no deductibles and no yearly maximums. The goal of this plan is to help address the main reason that patients skip their recall visits, which is that once they exhaust the annual benefits provided through traditional dental plans. This structure can make maintenance appointments more affordable and accessible. This plan is designed with the long-term goal of maintaining your restorations for as long as possible.
When To Schedule An Appointment To Review Restoration Maintenance
Your crowns, implants, veneers, and bonding work are an important investment in your health and smile confidence, and we encourage you to make sure you get the most out of them by starting with personalized care for every smile from a provider who knows your dental history and has watched your smile mature over time. At Fourth Ward Dentistry, Right In Uptown Charlotte, we combine great technology with the kind of personal touch to make sure we catch small problems before they become large ones.
Whether you need to stay current on maintenance visits or need to come into the office after a few years without care, we would love to see you! Reach out and schedule your recall visit so that you can get the most from your restoration work!