Please read the following post-operative instructions for your crown procedure.
- After your first appointment for crown treatment, a temporary crown is placed on the tooth or teeth involved. The temporary crown protects the site while your customized, permanent crown is being fabricated.
- When an anesthetic has been used, your cheeks, lips, teeth, and tongue may be numb for several hours. Please avoid any biting/chewing until the numbness has completely worn off.
- To help keep your temporary crown in place, please avoid eating sticky foods (e.g., gum, taffy, caramel, etc.) that can remove your temporary crown. Please also avoid crunchy/hard foods (e.g., nuts, popcorn kernels, tortilla chips, etc.), which can break your temporary crown. If possible, please chew only on the opposite side of your mouth and avoid extremely hot or cold food/beverages.
- With your temporary crown, as well as permanent crown, you may experience some discomfort due to irritation of the area during the treatment procedures. You may also experience sensitivity to cold, heat, or pressure. Your gums may be sore for several days. If your gums are sore, please rinse three times a day with lukewarm saltwater to reduce pain and swelling. Please make sure to also avoid spicy/acidic/crunchy foods and drinks that may further irritate the gums.
- It is important to continue to brush normally, but floss very carefully and pull the floss out from the side to prevent pulling off the temporary crown.
- After your permanent crown is cemented, you may need a few days to adjust to it. If you feel the bite is not correctly balanced, please call for an appointment so that we can make an adjustment.
- Please care for your permanent crown with proper brushing and flossing. It is especially important to keep the edge of the crown clean at the gum line.
**It is very important for the proper fit of your final restoration that the temporary crown stays in place. On rare occasions, the temporary crown may come off or break. If the crown comes off, place the temporary back on your tooth and call the office so it can be re-cemented.
Temperature sensitivity (that subsides) while in the temporary crown is normal. However, if your bite feels uneven, you have extreme persistent pain, throbbing/aching that keeps you awake at night, swelling, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office right away.