How Long Does Tooth Cement Last?
By
Dr Shivam Jha
This blog post will address the question, “how long does tooth cement last?” and cover topics like what dental cement is, different types of dental cement, their advantages and disadvantages, how long do dental crowns last, what dental crowns are, when do you need a dental crown, which dental crown should you prefer and if there is any special care that you need to take for your crown.
How Long Does Tooth Cement Last?
Tooth cement may last anywhere between 5-15 years depending upon the type of tooth cement used, the expertise of the dentist who performed the procedure, and the oral habits of the person who received the treatment.
What Are Dental Cement?
Dental Cement are materials used in dentistry to primarily attach crowns and orthodontic appliances to your tooth. It can be regarded as a glue used in dentistry.
Dental cement may also be used as pulp-protecting agents, temporary restorations, and cavity fillers.
What Are The Different Types Of Dental Cement?
Different types of dental cement are:
- Zinc Phosphate Cement
- Zinc Oxide – Eugenol Cement
- Polycarboxylate Cement
- Glass Ionomer Luting Cement
- Resin-modified Glass Ionomer Cement
- Composite Cement
- Resin-based Cement
- Calcium Hydroxide Cement
Zinc Phosphate Cement
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Low in price | Poor bonding with the tooth |
| Easy to use | Irritates pulp leading to pulpitis |
| Easy to locate on X-rays | Sensitivity on eating and drinking too hot or cold |
Zinc Oxide – Eugenol Cement
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Pulp healing ability | Low strength and abrade easily |
| Strong seal | Soluble in oral fluids |
| Doesn’t break easily on margins | No or less resistance against caries |
Polycarboxylate Cement
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Does not irritate pulp | Hard to clean up |
| Strong bonding with the tooth structure | Quickly hardens and thus dentist’s find it hard to use |
Glass Ionomer Luting Agent
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Releases fluoride | May change appearance after absorbing water |
| Forms very strong bond with enamel and dentin | Acidic in nature and therefore irritates pulp and may cause pulpitis after use |
Resin-modified Glass Ionomer Cement
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Fluoride releasing potential | Acidic in nature and therefore irritates pulp and may cause pulpitis after use |
| Easy to use and clean by the dentist | Absorbs water and changes shape or may even crack |
Composite Cement
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Strongly bonds to the tooth structure | Loses bond strength over a period of time and has to be replaced |
| Does not dissolve in the oral fluids | Expands and may distort (Hygroscopic expansion) |
Resin-based Cement
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Strong bonding to the tooth structure | Requires dental professional to be an expert in handling and mixing such type of cement |
| Insoluble to the oral fluids | Longer chair time |
| Does not irritate the pulp | Difficult to identify on X-Rays as not all are radiopaque |
Calcium Hydroxide Cement
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Used as a pulp protecting agent | Breaks down easily and thus cannot be used to bond restorations to tooth structure |
| Anti-bacterial in nature and prevent caries attack | Highly soluble to oral fluids |
| Helps in remineralisation and healing of the cavities in their earliest stage | Low strength to be used as a bonding cement |
How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?
The lifetime of dental crowns may vary depending on several factors like:
- Type of tooth crown used
- Amount of pressure to which tooth crown is exposed
- Oral habits of the person receiving dental crown
- Teeth grinding
- Biting fingernails
- Eating and drinking too hot or cold
- Opening coke bottle
What Are Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are cap-like structures resembling the shape of the tooth. They are placed on the top of the visible tooth structure to restore the appearance and functionality of the repaired tooth.
Why Do You Need A Dental Crown?
You may need a dental crown for multiple reasons:
- To restore aesthetics
- To support a weak tooth structure
- To restore a broken or worn out tooth
- After a root canal to improve functionality and esthetics
- To cover a dental implant
Which Dental Crown Should I Prefer?
There are different types of dental crowns depending on the material with which they are made of:
- Metal Crowns
- Made of metals like gold and nickel
- Lasts the longest
- Tooth removal is minimal
- Withstand chewing forces very well
- Only drawback is that they are not esthetically good
- Good choice for molars
- Porcelain-fused Metal Crowns
- Has all the features of metal crowns
- Porcelain is added and infused to make it more aesthetic
- Porcelain part is weaker compared to the metal part of the crown. Thus porcelain part may break or chip off
- May wear down the opposite teeth
- Good choice for front or back teeth
- All-Resin Crowns
- Less expensive but does not last longer and may break
- All-Ceramic or All-Porcelain Crowns
- Best esthetically
- Not as strong as porcelain-fused metal crowns
- May wear the opposite teeth
- Good choice for front teeth
Depending on your budget and recommendations of your dentist, you may choose the appropriate dental crown for you.
Do I Need Any Special Care For My Dental Crown?
You may not need any special care for your dental crown. To protect the natural tooth beneath the crown, you must follow good oral hygiene practises like brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing daily once, and occasional mouthwash.
Conclusion
This blog post addressed the question, “how long does tooth cement last”. We understood what dental cement is, different types of dental cement, their advantages and disadvantages, how long do dental crowns last, what dental crowns are, why you may need a dental crown, which dental crown should you prefer and if there is any special care that you need to take for your crown.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs): How Long Does Tooth Cement Last?
Is dental cement permanent?
Dental cement may be permanent or temporary depending on their properties. Permanent dental cement is used to permanently restore the crown on your tooth and is stronger and durable.
Can dental cement fall out?
Yes! Dental cement can fall out even after proper care and hygiene. Dental cements have a certain lifetime and may fall out once it is complete.
Dental cement may fall out before their lifetime is complete due to several reasons including bad oral habits like teeth grinding which may wear down the crown material.
How long does dental temporary cement last?
Dental temporary cement may last not more than one to three weeks and has to be replaced after that with a permanent dental cement.
How long does it take dental cement to dry?
It takes almost one to three hours for a dental cement to dry and set depending on their type. Hence, it is advised to eat only after one hour of the procedure and from the opposite side of the crown applied.
Can you buy dental glue over the counter?
Yes, you can buy dental glue or cement from over the counter stores. Dental cement is available over the counter but to apply them you may need a dental professional.
How do dentists remove dental cement?
Dentists use special dental tools to remove dental cement. To loosen the crown, your dentist may use a special tool that fits the edge of the crown and using it they break the strong adhesive bond between the crown and natural tooth.
How Long Does It Take To Remove The Dental Cement?
Your dentist may take less than a minute to remove the dental cement and thus remove the dental crown.
Do Fillings Need To Be Replaced?
Yes, fillings need to be replaced once it falls out or wears out leaving the cavity exposed to bacterial infiltration.
Tooth cavity filling materials are constantly subjected to biting force, or may be stress from teeth clenching, wearing them out slowly and slowly, ultimately leading to their fall out, cracking or chipping off.
Once fillings are worn out, replacement is needed to prevent bacterial invasion and cavity reappearance.
Can cavities come back after filling?
Yes! A cavity may reappear even after filling due to bacterial contamination of the tooth cavity resulting from multiple causes such as microleakage, faulty crown placement, filling material falling out due to poor after-care, inadequate debridement and sealing of the cavity and poor oral hygiene after filling.
In order to prevent cavities from reappearing even after filling, daily brushing your teeth twice is essential along with daily flossing and occasional mouthwash.
However, if the reappearance of the cavity is due to reasons other than poor oral hygiene, then your dentist will examine and fix the issue as suitable.
If you feel any hole or pain in the tooth that has filling, immediately consult your dentist.
Can I wait 6 months to fill a cavity?
You must not wait for 6 months to get your cavity filled as the cavities may grow as fast as six months and reach your pulp causing tooth pain, sensitivity and may even lead to tooth loss.
References:
Dental Cement – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
In Search of the Ideal Dental Cement…. Have We Arrived? (2015)
What’s a Luting Agent? Types of Dental Cements to Secure Your Restoration – Colgate
Dental Crowns. (2020)
How to Care for a Temporary Crown. (2019)