Getting a new crown or bridge is a big step toward restoring your smile’s function and beauty. At The Dentist, we want to ensure your recovery is as smooth and comfortable as possible. While you wait for your custom permanent restoration to be crafted in the dental lab, you will be wearing a temporary crown or bridge.
This temporary restoration plays a crucial role in your treatment. It protects the prepared tooth structure and maintains the proper spacing for your final fit. To help you navigate the time between your preparation appointment and your final delivery appointment, we have put together this comprehensive guide on post-operative care.
Immediate Aftercare: The First Few Hours
Directly after your appointment, your mouth will likely still feel the effects of the local anesthesia. Your tongue, lips, and the roof of your mouth may be numb for several hours. During this window, it is critical to be careful.
Protect Yourself from Injury
Because you cannot feel your lips or tongue, it is very easy to accidentally bite them while chewing or speaking. We strongly recommend that you refrain from eating until the numbness has completely worn off.
Watch Your Temperature
Avoid drinking hot beverages like coffee, tea, or soup while you are numb. You could unknowingly burn your soft tissues because your natural heat sensors are temporarily turned off. Stick to room-temperature water if you are thirsty immediately after your visit.
Diet: What to Eat (and What to Avoid)
For the first 24 hours after your procedure, your tooth and the surrounding gum tissue need time to settle. During this period, and generally while wearing your temporary, you should stick to a soft diet.
Your temporary crown is held in place with temporary cement. This cement is designed to be weak enough for us to remove easily when your permanent tooth is ready, but strong enough to hold for a few weeks—if you are careful.
Foods to Enjoy
Soft foods are your best friends right now. They require less chewing force and are less likely to dislodge your temporary restoration. Here are some excellent options to keep your nutrition up without risking your dental work:
- Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, oatmeal, Greek yogurt, or fruit smoothies (without seeds).
- Lunch/Dinner: Mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, cooled soup, or finely chopped chicken.
- Snacks: Apple sauce, pudding, Jell-O, and ice cream (without nuts or hard mix-ins).
- Protein: Ground beef or soft, flaky fish are good alternatives to tough steaks or pork chops.
Foods to Avoid
Certain textures can wreak havoc on temporary cement. To prevent your temporary from breaking or popping off, steer clear of:
- Hard, crunchy foods: Raw carrots, nuts, pretzels, chips, and ice cubes.
- Sticky foods: Caramel, taffy, chewing gum, and gummy candies. These act like glue and can pull the crown right off the tooth.
- Tough meats: Steak or jerky that requires vigorous chewing.
Chewing Tips
If your temporary crown is on a front tooth, avoid biting directly into foods like apples, corn on the cob, or sandwiches. instead, cut your food into small, bite-sized pieces and chew carefully with your back teeth.
Oral Hygiene: Keeping It Clean
Just because it is a “temporary” tooth doesn’t mean you can skip cleaning it. In fact, keeping the gum tissue around the tooth healthy is vital for ensuring your permanent crown fits perfectly. If the gums are inflamed or bleeding when you come in for your final appointment, it can make the seating of the permanent crown difficult.
Brushing
Brush your teeth regularly, at least twice a day. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and be gentle around the gum line of the temporary restoration.
Flossing Technique
Flossing requires a special technique while you have a temporary crown.
- Gently guide the floss down between the teeth.
- Clean the side of the tooth as you normally would.
- Crucial Step: Do not pop the floss back up out of the contact point. Instead, let go of one end of the floss and pull it out through the side.
- Lifting the floss upward (the normal way) can catch the edge of the temporary and pull it off.
Managing Sensitivity and Discomfort
It is completely normal to experience some sensitivity to temperature (hot and cold) and pressure after your appointment. The tooth has undergone a procedure, and it needs time to heal.
Gum Tenderness
The gums around the temporary crown may feel sore or tender. To soothe this, you can rinse your mouth with a warm saltwater solution.
- Mix ½ teaspoon of salt into ½ cup of warm water.
- Swish gently for 30 seconds and spit.
- Repeat this 4 times a day to reduce inflammation and promote healing.
Pain Management
Mild discomfort can usually be managed with over-the-counter pain medication, such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol), provided you have no medical allergies to them.
Most sensitivity will subside within a few weeks after the placement of the final restoration. However, if your pain gets progressively worse, keeps you awake at night, or is causing more than mild discomfort, please do not hesitate to contact our office immediately.
What If the Temporary Comes Off?
Despite your best efforts, a temporary crown may occasionally come loose or break. Do not panic—this is a manageable situation.
Your temporary plays an important role in protecting the internal structure of your tooth and preventing the surrounding teeth from shifting. If it comes off, please call us. We will be happy to recement or repair it for you. Do not try to glue it back in yourself with household super glue, as this can damage the tooth and be toxic.
If you cannot come in immediately and the tooth is not sensitive, you can purchase temporary dental cement from a pharmacy to hold it in place until your appointment.
At The Dentist, your comfort is our priority. By following these simple instructions, you are setting the stage for a successful, long-lasting result with your new permanent crown or bridge. We look forward to seeing you at your next visit!