Anesthetic: You were numbed today for this procedure, so please wait until the numbing wears off before chewing, eating, or drinking. Please wait before ingesting anything hot especially, so you don’t run the risk of burning the inside of your mouth (2-2.5 hours).
Your Temporary Crown: The temporary crown that was placed today is made of soft acrylic, and attached with a weak adhesive purposely, so it can be easily removed when it comes time to place your permanent crown. This temporary does not reflect the actual color, shape, or fit of your permanent crown.
Eating: For the most part you may eat normally, but please chew anything hard or crunchy on the opposite side of your mouth than the temporary to prevent it from cracking or breaking. Also, avoid candies, gum, or anything sticky that could dislodge the temporary crown.
Brushing and Flossing: You may brush like normal around the temporary, but no flossing on either side of the tooth until the permanent crown is placed.
Soreness: It is normal for the area to be tender for the first couple of days after the procedure, to help you may put ½ a teaspoon of salt in warm water and rinse three times a day.
Sensitivity: Some sensitivity is normal at the site of the crown, it should subside in a few days after the procedure. If you are having more sensitivity after a week, please call our office. If you are a patient who grinds their teeth, you are more likely to have sensitivity for a longer period of time. After this procedure, please wear your night guard as instructed by Dr. Obeid to help reduce this sensitivity.
Adjustments: If you are feeling any sensitivity to biting or coldness, or if you feel like the temporary is “higher” than the rest of your teeth, let us know. It is a quick fix to adjust the bite of your temporary, and you do not have to be numbed for this.
Constant Pain: If you are experiencing a constant “hot and throbbing” feeling in the tooth without using it, or if there is a constant pain that lasts more than two days, call the office. You may have a deep cavity in the tooth that is affecting the nerve, and could possibly need a different procedure like a root canal.
After Your Permanent Crown Is Placed: The permanent crown will take about two weeks to be made and shipped back to us, so your appointment should be made after your crown prep appointment. This crown will be cemented with a much stronger and permanent adhesive, but should not be chewed on for 24 hours so it can set properly. You may eat 1-1.5 hours after your appointment; this is just the crucial initial time that the crown should be allowed to set without any eating whatsoever. There is no numbing in this appointment, so once the setting time has passed you may eat and drink like normal. It is important to be consistent with daily oral hygiene, brushing twice a day and flossing daily will help you protect the investment you have made in your tooth. There is still tooth structure where the crown ends, so decay is still possible underneath your permanent crown. As long as you take proper care of this crown, it could last you in perfect condition for several years.
January 3, 2022
Dental crowns are tooth-like caps placed on top of damaged or broken teeth to restore size and strength. They can also act as filings to seal gaps between teeth. They can either be placed on the same day or can require multiple appointments.
Your natural teeth that are damaged or cracked are trimmed down to make an anchor post that supports the permanent crown. At times, cosmetic dentistry may use temporary crowns to restore your smile for a major function.
It is essential to take care of your crowns after placement to minimize the risk of an oral infection. You also need to keep any discomfort at a tolerable level until you completely heal. The following are six aftercare FAQs will guide you on how you can care for your crowns after the procedure:
- Can I Eat Pizza After a Crown?
Hot foods such as coffee, pizza, or soup will damage your crown. You may, therefore, need to avoid them if you experience discomfort. Sometimes these hot foods may cause sensitivity around your crown.
Your dentist will advise you to change your diet after the crown procedure as some foods will be off-limits. Foods which require a lot of chewing will have to be reduced to a minimal level. The best types of food are soft foods like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, yogurt, and soup.
You may also be advised to drink a lot of water throughout the day to wash any excess bacteria which may develop in your mouth.
- Does Alcohol Affect Dental Crowns?
Drinking alcohol may damage your crowns. This is because the sugar present in alcohol may form bacteria that accumulate on your teeth’ grooves. A lot of bacteria accumulation may cause tooth decay.
- Can You Smoke With a Dental crown?
Smoking after the permanent crown placement turns the whole process into a complete waste of time and money as the crowns will fail to integrate. It is also a hindrance to healing. Cigarette smoke may deprive the blood of oxygen which in turn affects the healing process.
Smoking can also be an irritant, making healing gums inflamed. This irritation may lead to an infection that can damage your crowns or make them chipped.
- How Can You Keep Your Oral Health Clean?
You are likely to experience some discomfort and swelling, and minor bleeding after the procedure. However, you can alleviate the discomfort, stop bleeding and prevent further infections by daily cleaning your mouth. This good daily routine includes brushing your teeth at least twice a day and swashing with your mouth wash as directed by your dentist in Summerland.
- Is There Pain Medication For the Discomfort?
It is normal to feel some irritation and discomfort around the tooth after the local anesthesia wears off. Most of the time, pain relievers prescribed by your dentist or over-the-counter drugs can help alleviate the irritation. In addition, some patients may notice that using sensitive toothpaste may help them feel better.
One good thing about same-day crowns is that you will go through one appointment at Summerland Dental Centre, which means you will only endure the pain once.
- How to Take care of the Temporary Crown?
Sometimes your dentist may provide a temporary crown before placing a permanent one. This temporary crown is delicate. Therefore, you will need to chew using the opposite side to prevent dislodging, cracking, or having a chipped crown. Your dentist will urge you to avoid sticky foods for 24 hours to allow the cement to set properly on the permanent crown. Patients can eat and regularly brush their teeth after the cement has dried and the permanent crown is securely positioned in their teeth.
- Are There Any Complications?
It is important to check for any signs of complications that may occur during your recovery process. If you have any issues, you must notify your dentist to ensure that the problems do not worsen or linger more than necessary. The signs to check for include moderate to severe bleeding, excessive swelling, intolerable pain, and loose dental crown. Though it is normal to experience some discomfort, anything severe calls for concern.