Dental Crown Fitting Post-Treatment Checklist

What to Check Before You Leave

Don’t be in such a hurry to leave the dentist’s office just because the crown looks good. Take a moment to bite into it lightly, and make sure the bite feels comfortable. The dentist may need to adjust the crown so that it doesn’t irritate your mouth, and your bite can play a factor in this.

Things to Check

• A strange bite is something worth mentioning, even if you’re not positive it’s there

Your gum line should feel somewhat normal around the crown. It’s normal for the treated area to feel slightly tender, but if it’s really sore you may want to call the dentist.

• Flossing will be something you will want to check, as well

If the floss feels uncomfortable around the crown or in the area between teeth, don’t force it. Tell the dentist and they’ll likely be able to fix the problem.

Things To Expect At Home In The Days To Come

Once the numbness wears off, continue to eat normally, but don’t test the strength of the crown right away. You may feel more comfortable with softer foods at first, and as time passes you can move on to tougher foods. It’s normal for the tooth to feel a little uncomfortable while you chew for a few days, but it should eventually stop.

Make sure you continue to brush the crown, as well. The tooth beneath the crown and the gums around it need to be taken care of, even though the crown itself can’t get cavities.

Try not to be too rough, though. It’s important to treat the crowned tooth the same way you treat the rest, but brushing shouldn’t feel like an exercise.

Your Personal Evaluation

Each day, try to notice if the tooth feels more or less comfortable. You don’t have to look in the mirror every few hours, simply see how it feels while you’re doing everyday activities. Sometimes the biggest sign that something’s wrong is that the tooth begins to feel oddly uncomfortable in your mouth.

Things You Should Call The Dentist About

The dentist may need to make adjustments to your bite or the crown itself. It could also be something wrong with the actual tooth. You don’t need to diagnose it yourself.

• If you find yourself having recurring pain, especially after eating, it’s best to have your dentist evaluate it.

• A crowned tooth that’s becoming loose is something you should address right away, but don’t try to work it loose yourself. Don’t continue to eat on that side of your mouth to see if it’ll stop you from feeling discomfort.

• Swelling around the crowned tooth or irritation to the gums isn’t something you need to wait on.

Keeping Up With Your Crown

You don’t need to baby the crowned tooth, but it does need to be taken care of. Brush at least twice a day, and floss anywhere the dentist told you to. If you have a bad habit of grinding your teeth while you sleep, make sure the dentist knows about it. This can shorten the lifespan of the crown.

The whole point is that you get used to having the crown and eventually stop noticing it, aside from a strange bite. Once you’re not noticing it, you can continue to take care of it without another evaluation.

Keep your follow-up visit if the dentist recommends it. Something small can be addressed before it turns into something bigger, and you’ll save yourself from having to go back to the dentist later on.

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