Temporary Crown Post Operative Instructions

Please follow these instructions while you are awaiting your permanent crown or bridge. Do not hesitate to call the office should you have any questions about your temporary.

1. During your procedure, a local anesthetic will be used to numb your mouth and keep you comfortable. This will cause your lips, teeth, and tongue to remain numb for up to five hours after your procedure. As such, it is advisable to avoid eating and drinking hot liquids until your mouth regains feeling. Because temporary crowns are not intended for permanent use and are made from a lightweight material and are not as durable as a permanent crown, please avoid foods that are sticky, crunchy, or hard.
2. Do not floss the area around your temporary crown. Should you find it necessary to do so, gently wiggle your floss in between your teeth and then pull it out towards the cheek side. Do not pull the floss back out as it can cause the loss and/or damage of your temporary crown.
3. Your temporary plays an important role in protecting your tooth and holding the space for your permanent crown or bridge. Should it come loose or damaged, please call our office and we will be happy to recement or repair it.
4. Should your temporary become dislodged on the weekend or while you are out of town, purchase temporary dental cement from a drugstore. Remove any cement left in the temporary and replace it with a “teardrop” amount of cement. Do not leave any cement on your gums.
5. It is normal to have significant changes in response to temperature and soreness at the injection site after dental restorations. This should subside within a few days and in some cases weeks. If your pain gets progressively worse or is causing more than mild discomfort, please call this office.
6. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is very effective for dental pain. Two to four tablets may be taken four times a day for the next 3-4 days (if needed) to help control the sensitivity in this area.
7. Should the gums around the temporary crown become sensitive, rinse 4 times a day with a warm salt water solution (½ tsp salt to ½ cup water).
8. It is important to note that your temporary crown is not made from the same materials as your permanent crown. Because of this, your temporary crown may feel rough and may not be the exact color or shape that you would like. Although your temporary may not be perfect, you can be sure that your permanent crown is being custom fabricated to your individual smile. However, if your bite feels off with your temporary crown, you will need to notify our office immediately. Sometimes, the dental anesthetics can make it hard to determine if your bite is even. If the anesthetic wears off and your bite feels uneven, we will need to make adjustments to the temporary crown to keep your bite even.