How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?
For anyone with a crown: how long crowns last in long-term studies, the practice's lifespan range, how crowns fail, what helps them last, the signs one needs a dentist and when it needs replacing. In two long-term studies, most failures were biological, such as decay.
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Clinically reviewed by Dr Ibraheem Ijaz, dentist · GDC 301711
Medical disclaimer: This page is for general information only. It does not replace an examination or treatment by a dentist.
Dr Ibraheem Ijaz, principal dentist at Deepcar Dental Care and a General Dental Practitioner (GDC 301711), reviewed this page.
How long do dental crowns last?
Crown lifespan differs between studies, and each defines survival in its own way.
Burke and Lucarotti (2009) followed 47,474 crowns placed for adults in the General Dental Services in England and Wales, in treatment begun 1990 to 2001. At 10 years, 68% of metal crowns, the longest-surviving type, and 48% of all-porcelain crowns, the shortest, had needed no further treatment on that tooth.
An 18-year retrospective study of 1,037 full crowns in 456 patients, made in an undergraduate clinic offering a maintenance programme, estimated survival at 78% (De Backer and colleagues, 2006). Walton (2013) estimated 85.40% survival at 25 years for 2,211 gold-based metal-ceramic crowns rated favourably when fitted from 1984 to 2008, in a practice limited to prosthodontics.
How do crowns actually fail?
In Goodacre's 2003 pooled review, conventional single crowns' commonest complications were needing root canal treatment (3%), porcelain fracture (3%) and coming loose (2%).
In two long-term studies, most failures were biological. In De Backer's, 66.4% of failures that led to removal were biological and 33.6% technical or patient-related, with decay the most frequent reason, then gum disease (2006, 2007). In Walton's (2013), biological factors caused 101 of 133 failures, mechanical 8 and patient concerns 24.
Decay at the margin
Decay at a crown's margin is a form of secondary caries: decay associated with an existing restoration. A 2020 review (Askar and colleagues) found restorative material has some influence, but restoration gaps, the patient's decay risk and the placing dentist's experience seem more relevant, though data on secondary caries are surprisingly sparse.
Cement failure
A crown whose cement fails can come loose or off, which studies call loss of retention. Our page on recementing a crown that has come off explains when one can be refitted.
Fracture
Bristol Dental School says a crown whose porcelain fractures will need replacing. In Walton's 1984 to 2008 study of 2,340 gold-based metal-ceramic crowns, porcelain fracture needing replacement occurred in 4.
Grinding and clenching (bruxism)
A 2025 scoping review of mostly retrospective studies found bruxism a risk factor for failure of direct and indirect restorations, except monolithic zirconia (Al-Talib and colleagues). A 2026 review found no clinical trial of how restoration materials last in people with bruxism (Saracutu and colleagues).
What extends crown life?
Daily cleaning, avoiding biting hard objects such as ice, and regular dental visits help a crown last, the Oral Health Foundation says.
- Brush for two minutes last thing at night and once more during the day, with a fluoride toothpaste.
- Clean between your teeth once a day with floss or interdental brushes.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says limiting how often you have sugar also helps preserve a crown. Everyday habits for any restoration are on our page about making restorations last, and our dental hygiene section covers professional hygiene appointments.
For teeth grinding, the NHS says a dentist may recommend a mouth guard or splint, worn at night to protect the teeth from damage; see our page on protecting your teeth at night.
What are the signs a crown needs attention?
Signs needing a dentist include a crown coming off, fractured porcelain and grinding damage, NHS and dental school guidance says.
NHS 111 Wales advises seeing a dentist if a crown comes off, keeping the crown safe to take along, and not going to a GP, who cannot give dental treatment.
The NHS says to see a dentist if you grind your teeth and have tooth damage or sensitive teeth, if you grind your teeth and have pain in your jaw, face or ear, if your partner says you grind your teeth in your sleep, or if you are worried about your child grinding their teeth.
To ask about dental crowns, book online or call 0114 288 2121.
When does a crown need replacing?
Bristol Dental School lists replacing an existing failing crown among the reasons for crown treatment.
For a lost crown, NHS 111 Wales says the dentist will assess the tooth and may suggest a temporary filling or repair first, a new filling or crown long term, or root canal treatment or extraction if the tooth cannot be repaired.
What should you know about crowns at Deepcar Dental Care?
At Deepcar Dental Care, the realistic lifespan range for a crown is 5 to 20 years. Outcomes depend on the individual patient, their oral hygiene and their habits.
No overseas laboratory work is used at the practice, and work goes to more than one laboratory, chosen to suit the case.
Where are crown fees listed?
The practice's fee list on 28 October 2026 includes the line "All Ceramic Crowns & Veneers From £750 - £1000".
Our page about restorative treatment costs has more on fees.
Where do crowns fit in restorative dentistry?
Our page on dental crowns explains when a tooth needs a crown, a cap that completely covers it. Crowns are one way of repairing and rebuilding damaged teeth, saving natural teeth rather than replacing them with implants.
Frequently asked questions
Can a dental crown last a lifetime?
A crown may need replacing at some point: NHS guidance on dental charges says crowns may need to be replaced in the future. The Oral Health Foundation says well-cared-for crowns can last many years, and your dentist can give you an idea of how long yours may last.
Do crowns on root-filled teeth last as long?
Possibly not. In Burke and Lucarotti's UK study, a root filling placed in the same course of treatment as the crown was associated with shorter crown survival. Walton's study of gold-based metal-ceramic crowns found lower survival on non-vital teeth, except among crowns placed in its later, post-implant era.
Can a dentist see decay under a crown?
Not always reliably. A 2020 review (Askar and colleagues) found methods for detecting decay next to restorations sparsely validated and likely to over-detect. In a 2000 study of 16 crowned teeth with decay, clinical scores matched microscope findings well for superficial and deep decay at the margin, but not the depth of discoloured areas or decay circling the tooth.
Does gum disease affect how long a crown lasts?
It can. In De Backer's 18-year study, patients with high gum treatment-need scores at the start were 3.8 times likelier than low scorers to lose a crown and its tooth, linked to many problems besides gum disease. Plaque and bleeding scores were not directly related to failures. The authors advised gum examination, and treatment if needed, before crown work.
Do crowns last longer on front or back teeth?
Two long-term studies found no significant difference. De Backer's found none across molars, premolars and front teeth, and Walton's, of gold-based metal-ceramic crowns, none by tooth type or position. A 2015 review of 67 studies found some materials survived less well on back teeth at five years, and our guide to crown materials compared has more.
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Deepcar Dental Care is at 334 Manchester Road, Deepcar, Sheffield, S36 2RH, open 8am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday. Patient feedback is on the practice's reviews page.
334 Manchester Road
Deepcar, Sheffield S36 2RH
0114 288 2121
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Open 8am to 8pm, seven days
Free parking at the door