Sillim-dong Dentist: Can Dental Prostheses Last a Lifetime?

Hello. This is Yonsei U-Line Dental Clinic, Sillim Branch,

located in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu.

After receiving dental treatment, you may naturally wonder,

“Will this last a lifetime, or how long can I use it?”

You may also think, “I went through all that difficult treatment—

do I have to go through it again?

What can I do to avoid repeating it?”

Today, I’d like to explain the typical lifespan of dental prostheses

and how you can make them last longer.

A prosthesis generally refers to something

that is attached to a tooth using adhesive.

Crowns and inlays made of gold or porcelain

are examples of prostheses.

The important point here is that adhesive is used.

Most problems occur because this adhesive

comes loose over time.

It is not that the prosthesis was faulty from the beginning.

When we chew food and swallow saliva thousands of times a day,

it is continually exposed to impact.

Over time, the adhesive gradually begins to come loose.

This is especially true for people who frequently eat hard foods.

In fact, if the treatment simply stayed in place like a decoration,

it could easily last for several decades.

It could genuinely be used for 20 or even 30 years or more.

The problem is that it has to function, so that is not the case.

The environment around a tooth is naturally moist,

and it is continually subjected to stimulation,

so the adhesive gradually becomes weaker.

On average, you can consider the adhesive to

start dissolving after about seven to eight years.

That is why we generally tell patients,

“After using it for about 10 years, consider replacing it

even if you are not experiencing any discomfort.”

For example, when a tooth is covered with a crown,

its internal condition can be checked by X-ray,

but even if it appears fine from the outside,

problems can easily develop underneath.

Some people continue using it because it seems fine,

then suddenly visit us saying, “My tooth fell out.”

In such cases, it may not be only the crown that has come out;

the tooth may have decayed and fallen out along with it.

When this happens, even if you want to reattach the prosthesis,

the tooth itself may no longer remain,

making an implant likely to be necessary.

What matters is not the prosthesis itself,

but whether the tooth supporting it remains healthy.

The best approach is to reattach the prosthesis with new adhesive

every 10 years and continue using it.

Remove the prosthesis, make minor adjustments,

and attach it with new adhesive—it can then be used for about another 10 years.

So rather than thinking, “I had it done once, so I’ll use it until it falls out,”

it is better to think of having it redone every 10 years.

Inlays are somewhat different.

Unlike crowns, inlays do not cover the entire tooth,

so the surrounding tooth structure remains visible.

That makes it important to regularly check for tooth discoloration

or cavities around the inlay.

If the surrounding tooth does not decay significantly,

an inlay can generally be used for about 10 years.

However, in many cases, cavities begin to develop

after about seven years as the adhesive comes loose.

Therefore, it is a good idea to consider replacing it around that time.

Finally, the most concerning case is

when a crown is placed after root canal treatment.

Because root canal treatment removes sensation,

you may not notice even if a cavity develops.

Then one day, it may suddenly come out with a “pop,”

and in many cases, the decay has already progressed all the way to the root.

Therefore, it is very important to have regular checkups

and maintain it so that this does not happen.