Home Care Instructions: Temporary/Permanent Crown
While Wearing a Temporary Crown
- You will wear a temporary crown(s) until your permanent crown arrives.
- It is normal for the gum around the tooth to be tender for a day or two. If the tenderness persists any longer than two days, please call the dental office immediately so we can check the temporary crown and make any needed corrections.
- If the temporary crown comes loose or breaks, please call us. If the temporary crown is off for even a short time, the tooth can shift position and cause the final crown to not fit well.
- Please avoid eating with the temporary crown as much as possible.
- Carefully clean around the crown with a toothbrush and floss every day. When you do floss, pull the floss carefully out the side to avoid pulling the crown off. In certain cases, we may advise you not to floss the area until your final crown is delivered.
- Avoid sticky foods and chewing gum on the temporary crown to avoid pulling it off.
- Slight discomfort, sensitivity, and tenderness are possible after a tooth has had dental treatment, but if any of these persist for more than a day or two, please call the dental office.
AFTER THE PERMANENT CROWN HAS BEEN DELIVERED:
- Chewing: Do not chew hard foods on the restorations for 24 hours from the time they were cemented. The cement must mature for about 24 hours to have optimum strength.
- Sensitivity: Mild sensitivity to hot or cold foods is common. It should disappear gradually over a few weeks. Infrequently, sensitivity lasts longer than six weeks. Please tell us if this occurs.
- Aggressive chewing: Do not chew ice or other hard objects. Avoid chewing very sticky foods such as “hard tack” candies because they can damage or loosen the restoration.
- Apply fluoride to the surrounding area. The tooth will weaken after applying a crown, so fluoride is applied to strengthen it.