While it may only be there for a short time, a temporary crown is essential in repairing your tooth.

Your dentist will make every effort to save your tooth. But, unfortunately, sometimes a tooth is so severely decayed or broken it cannot be saved. In those instances, your dentist will restore it with a crown.

Getting a crown is a two-step process. Before a permanent crown is placed, you’ll need a temporary crown. Although a temporary crown stays on the tooth for a short time, it’s an important part of the restoration process and must be looked after properly. Here’s your guide on why you need a temporary crown and tips for taking care of it.

Why temporary crowns are used

Crowns make a severely damaged or decayed tooth whole again. If you’ve had a root canal, you’ll need a crown, as well. A crown also tops a dental implant. 

Before a permanent crown is made, your dentist will file the tooth into a thin tip. The crown will be affixed on top of the tip. Your dentist will take impressions of your mouth, so the crown matches the size, shape, and color of the tooth being replaced. 

Unless your dentist has the ability to make a crown in one day, you’ll likely wait two to three weeks for a permanent crown. (At Espire, we can make crowns in a day.)  It could be longer, depending upon the extensiveness of the dental work. During that time, you’ll be fitted with a temporary crown as the permanent one is being made.

The temporary crown serves several important functions. The most important one is keeping the teeth around the repaired tooth from shifting out of position. A temporary crown prevents your teeth and gums from being exposed and becoming sensitive. With a temporary crown, you can eat normally without any gaps in your teeth.

Because it’s not meant to last long, a temporary crown won’t match your tooth exactly. The materials used to make a temporary crown aren’t as durable as those used for a permanent one, either. Nevertheless, you’ll want to take good care of your temporary crown to maintain the health of your teeth and gums. 

Four tips for caring for your temporary crown

While you have a temporary crown, you’ll want to keep it as secure as possible until you get a permanent replacement. As you wait for a permanent crown, keep these four tips in mind:

Don’t drink or eat for 30 minutes. Wait for a half-hour before eating and drinking after the temporary crown is placed. This will give the cement used to secure the crown time to set.

Brush and floss carefully. And use a soft-bristled toothbrush topped with fluoride toothpaste. When flossing, go in and out instead of up and down to avoid uprooting the crown.

Avoid “chewy” foods. Hard foods or food that require a lot of chewing could force the temporary crown out of place. So avoid apples, raw carrots, steak, hard candy, and popcorn. Limit sweets, too. Sugar can get underneath the crown and cause decay. Plus, sticky sweets can easily dislodge a crown.

Avoid hot and cold beverages and foods. Your gums may be sensitive, so avoiding too hot or cold foods and drinks is best.

If the temporary crown does fall out, call your dentist immediately, who can fit you with a new temporary prosthetic. You can buy dental adhesive to secure the crown while you wait to see your dentist.

A temporary crown is just that — temporary. Before too long, you’ll get a perfectly fitted permanent crown and a complete set of teeth once again.

Need a crown? Visit Espire Dental

Schedule an appointment at Espire’s La Mesa location today! Our highly trained dentists can give you a perfectly matched permanent crown in just one day! Don’t live near our La Mesa, CA, office? Find one of our other locations near you.

La Mesa, CA
8555 Fletcher Parkway 
Suite 102 
La Mesa, CA 91942