After Crown or Bridge Placement

If you have a temporary crown while your permanent one is being made:

• Avoid sticky foods (gum, caramel, taffy) that can pull the temporary off.
• Avoid hard or crunchy foods on that side.
• Brush gently around the temporary crown.
• Floss carefully -- pull the floss out to the side rather than snapping it up, which can dislodge the temporary.
• If the temporary comes off, save it and call our office. Use temporary dental cement from a pharmacy to hold it in place until your appointment.
• Some sensitivity to hot and cold is normal with a temporary crown.

• Mild sensitivity to hot, cold, and pressure is normal and should improve within a few weeks.
• Your bite may feel slightly different at first -- this is normal. If it still feels off after a few days of normal use, call us for an adjustment.
• Avoid hard and sticky foods for the first 24 hours while the cement fully sets.
• Numbness from anesthesia will wear off in 1-3 hours -- avoid chewing until then.

• Brush twice daily, paying attention to the area where the crown meets the gum line.
• Floss daily around your crown. For bridges, use a floss threader or water flosser to clean under the bridge.
• Avoid using your crowned tooth to open packages, bite nails, or chew ice.
• Continue regular dental checkups and cleanings every 6 months.
• If you grind your teeth at night, ask us about a night guard to protect your crown.

Contact our office if you experience:

• Persistent pain that does not improve
• The crown feels loose or rocks when you press on it
• Swelling or tenderness in the gums around the crown
• Your bite feels uneven after 1 week
• The crown cracks, chips, or falls off (save the crown and bring it to your appointment)