A dental crown is the finishing touch for a large number of restorative dental procedures. The crown, which encases the entire natural crown of a tooth in a protective material, is often used to fortify and protect a tooth that has lost a significant amount of tooth material. 

In some instances, the tooth material has been lost due to decay. However, in others, it may be diminished due to an invasive dental application. 

Regardless of the reason that a dental crown is used, the device should be properly cared for in order to ensure that it remains permanent in the mouth. Here are a few things that you can do to keep your crown in place and undamaged.

Avoid Overly Chewy Foods

A permanent dental crown is bonded to a tooth using a specialized dental cement. As a result, the device is designed to withstand the usual pulling force that may accompany normal mastication. However, when an overly chewy substance is consumed, the amount of pull may be excessive, and the crown may be dislodged from the tooth.

In order to have the crown properly placed back in position, it is best to visit a dentist. The dental professional can clean the exposed tooth and reattach the crown before the crown or the natural tooth incurs more harm. 

Avoid Overly Hard Substances

Like chewy foods, substances that are overly hard can also be damaging to a dental crown. Depending on the material of the crown, the device may crack or chip if it experiences too much bite pressure. Crowns made from porcelain or porcelain-over-metal may be particularly susceptible to damage from bite pressure. 

Be sure to avoid biting down on any substance that could damage a natural tooth.

Wear a Mouthguard

If you play sports or suffer from bruxism, a mouthguard can help protect your crown from an inadvertent blow to the mouth or excessive pressure from nightly dental grinding. Mouthguards that are used in sports help protect the front of the teeth from a damaging blow. They also help prevent the teeth of the upper and lower palates from quickly and forcefully clamping together. 

The pressure-absorbent night guards that are used for bruxism sufferers help prevent the teeth of the top and bottom palates from forcefully grinding together. The grinding force of an episode of bruxism can damage a dental crown and even dislodge the tooth that it covers.

For more ways to protect your dental crown, schedule a consultation with a dentist in your local area. Visit a website like http://www.barnstabledental.com for more information.