How Long Should Dental Work Last?

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Jaw and Tooth Pain in Marysville, CA

Whenever I present treatment options to patients who need treatment, a question that many patients often ask me is “How long will this last”?  The answer to that question is often uncertain and complex. As dentists, we strive to give our patients the best possible treatment with high quality and longevity. Whether the restoration provided is a filling, crown, or some type of denture, many variables exist that can make the same restoration on the same tooth in two different person’s mouths differ in lifespan. That being said, what I will try and accomplish here is to provide you with a general idea of how long something should last in the mouth. 

Dental Fillings

Let’s start with one of the most common types of restoration, a filling. There are basically a few different types of fillings. The most common and well-studied of these is dental amalgam. Dental amalgam, or silver amalgam, has been around for nearly 200 years. A well-placed dental amalgam can last decades. More often than not, a tooth will fracture before a dental amalgam filling needs to be replaced due to the expansion and contraction of the material over many years of chewing cold and hot foods. 

Over the last several years the dental profession has used dental amalgam less and less because people demand that fillings be white and resemble natural teeth. White fillings or dental composite have been around since the 1960s. The earliest formulations of this material didn’t polish very well and did stain easily. As time went on manufacturers of these materials kept improving them. Today there are dental composites that mimic natural teeth in esthetics, optical properties and being fairly strong. Composite fillings are bonded to the tooth and do require more attention to detail when placing them. A dental composite will last on average about 7-10 years. They can last longer, but unfortunately, many dental composites aren’t placed in ideal conditions.  

Crowns and Onlays

Crowns and onlays are known as indirect restorations. That means they are fabricated outside the mouth and cemented or bonded onto a prepped tooth. These types of restorations can last decades in the mouth. Crowns and onlays can be made from metal, porcelain, a combination of metal and porcelain, high-strength composite materials or zirconia. People who have a higher risk for dental decay often have to replace crowns more often than someone who does not.  On average, a dental crown will last 12-15 years. In my personal experience, the oldest crown I have seen was in a 103-year-old patient who had a partial coverage gold crown comprising the outside corner of his upper right central incisor. When asked how old that restoration was, he told me that he was kicked in the face by his horse when he was 17 years old and that was what his dentist did to repair his tooth. That restoration was 86 years old and still looked great. On the other side of the spectrum, I’ve had patients needing to get their crowns replaced after just a couple of years of service.  

Full or Partial Dentures

Dentures, full or partial, are made for patients who have lost most or all their teeth. At some point in time, people who suffer from uncontrolled dental disease will succumb to one of these treatment options. These types of prosthetics can be supported by dental implants as well. With dozens of options to choose from, denture wearers may choose to have their dentures fixed into place with screws or help with the retention of the appliance by utilizing implant procedures. Whether utilizing implants or not, if the denture is made from acrylic then it does have a limited life span; this includes partial dentures. These appliances will last on average about 8-10 years. The acrylic can fracture, teeth may pop out, and many times people will lose them. These appliances are not cheap and if implants are involved it can get quite expensive.  

If you would like to schedule a consultation with me, Dr. Charles F. Kattuah, please call 530-741-9411  in Marysville, California. We are here to help you create your best smile!