Your dentist might use anesthetic so your cheek or tongue can stay numb for a while. Do not chew until the feeling comes back. Accidentally biting your cheek is an annoying way to spend the afternoon.<\/p>\r\n
Once the numbness goes away pay attention to how the crown feels when you close your teeth. A little unfamiliar is normal. A bite that feels clearly too high is different especially if that tooth hits first every time you close your mouth.<\/p>\r\n
Soft food makes the first meal easier especially while your mouth is still getting used to the crown.. Avoid anything very sticky until your dentist says you are good to go.<\/p>\r\n
You can usually go back to chewing fairly soon.. If biting on the crowned tooth causes sharp pain or the crown feels loose stop testing it. Call the office instead.<\/p>\r\n
A crown still has a tooth under it. That tooth needs care and the gum around the crown does too. So brush normally but be gentle around the gumline if the area feels tender.<\/p>\r\n
A simple check each evening:<\/p>\r\n
\u2022 Floss around the crown especially if food keeps getting stuck. It should slide through without needing to be forced.<\/p>\r\n
\u2022 The gum should slowly feel better. If swelling or bleeding keeps getting worse call your dentist.<\/p>\r\n
\u2022 No strange movement. A crown shouldn’t rock when you touch it with your tongue or finger even though you may keep checking it<\/p>\r\n
Mild sensitivity after treatment isn’t unusual. It often goes away as the tooth and surrounding tissue calm down.<\/p>\r\n
Persistent pain needs attention. So does pain that wakes you up at night swelling or a bite that still feels wrong after you’ve had time to adjust.<\/p>\r\n
Keep your follow-up appointment if your dentist suggests one. Talk about anything that still feels off even if it seems small.<\/p>\r\n
Don’t forget the boring part: protect the crown from the habits that hurt the tooth in the first place. If you regularly bite hard objects that habit is worth changing. A crown is strong. Its still not indestructible.<\/p>\r\n