Temporary Dental Crowns: What to Expect

Why You Get a Temporary Crown

A temporary crown protects your prepared tooth while the permanent crown is being made. Your dentist has usually reshaped the tooth so the final crown can fit properly. Leaving it exposed would make eating uncomfortable and could allow the tooth to become sensitive.

The temporary crown acts like a short-term cover. It also helps you use the tooth while you wait, although you’ll want to be a bit careful with it.

The First Few Hours

Your mouth may still feel numb after the appointment. So take care with hot food and drinks until normal feeling returns. Accidentally biting your cheek is surprisingly easy when half your face feels like it belongs to somebody else.

Once the numbness fades, the temporary crown may feel slightly bulky. Your tongue will probably keep checking it because, well, your tongue apparently has nothing better to do.

Eating With a Temporary Crown

• Sticky sweets are the awkward ones because they can pull at the temporary crown, and nobody wants a caramel to become part of the dental treatment.

• Very hard foods deserve a miss for now. Your temporary crown is there to protect the tooth, not prove how tough it is.

• If chewing feels uncomfortable, switch sides for a while rather than forcing yourself through it.

Cleaning Still Matters

Keep brushing around the temporary crown. Be gentle, but don’t avoid the area completely because plaque still builds up around the gumline.

Flossing needs a little care too. Pull the floss out from the side rather than snapping it upward, which can tug against the temporary crown.

When Something Doesn’t Feel Right

A temporary crown shouldn’t feel dramatically painful or loose. If your bite feels too high, tell your dentist. A small adjustment can make a surprisingly big difference.

If sensitivity becomes severe, pain keeps increasing, or the gum around the tooth becomes very swollen, get it checked rather than hoping it disappears.

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