Porcelain Crown for Front Tooth

Lots of good questions here.

Mileage varies from person to person, so predicting how long a crown will last is difficult.  Variables include brushing habits, diet, athletic efforts and many more.  Normally, we suggest that a crown will last somewhere between 5 and 20 years, often much more.  It would not be unusual to predict that you will replace this crown 2-3 times in your life, yet maybe never again.

While there are many brands of porcelain, they are almost all very good.  My preference right now is eMax by Ivoclar Vivadent, but Lava by 3M and Procera by Nobel Biocare are great options as well.  The list of choices is very long, though, so whatever your dentist suggests is likely a great option for you.

I get asked this question daily and the answer depends on several factors. Your occlusion (your bite) is very important in the longevity of any restoration. If your opposing tooth hits your crown too hard when you close down you risk fracturing it. If you are a grinder you will need a night guard to protect the crown. Is your hygiene good? Do you get your teeth cleaned regularly? Follow the instruction of your dentist and your crown should last for many years. Finally, if you are having a dental crown done on a front tooth makes sure it is all porcelain/ceramic. Ask your dentist if he uses Emax crowns. These are the strongest, most aesthetic crowns available. Hope this helps.

The lifespan of a crown depends on so many variables.  Hygiene, how much tooth is under the crown, skill of the dentist and lab, your bite, the material it was made from, did it have a root canal, etc..