How to Take Care of Your Temporary Crown

Dental hygiene continues to be a significant problem in America, with 178 million missing at least one tooth, 40 million having no natural teeth, and 80% dealing with gum disease. Furthermore, 16% of people in the United States struggle with tooth erosion, 27% have untreated tooth decay, and 91% have cavities. 

Caring for your teeth is vital to your health, but if you are dealing with any of the above issues, there are several solutions to help. 

Dental crowns are a common solution for people struggling with damaged teeth. But as your permanent dental crown is being fabricated, you’ll wear a temporary one.  

Protecting your temporary crowns is essential, so let’s look at how to care for them.

Residents of Mamaroneck, New York, and Stamford, Connecticut, in need of temporary crowns or other dental health solutions, can find help with Dr. Gennadiy Kravets and his experienced team at All Bright Dental.

How crowns protect teeth

Crowns are tooth-shaped caps used to protect damaged teeth and are generally made of materials like resin, ceramic, porcelain, gold, palladium, nickel, or chromium. To make space for the crown, some of the natural tooth enamel will need to be removed. Next, a dental impression is made, and when the crown is ready, it is placed over the damaged tooth.

Crowns support weak, cracked, or broken teeth. They also cover stained or discolored teeth, secure dental bridges, or cover a tooth after a root canal or a dental implant.

Reasons for a temporary crown

Temporary crowns are made of the same materials as permanent crowns. Permanent crowns take weeks to fabricate, so temporaries protect your teeth until they are ready. Temporary crowns are usually worn for 2-3 weeks.

Because temporary crowns are made quickly, they aren’t perfectly color-matched to your natural teeth. They also aren’t as sturdy because the dental cement is not designed to last as long.

Temporary crown maintenance

Temporary crowns need more care than permanents, so here are some tips to prevent damage:

Dietary choices

Since these crowns are less stable, that means foods like steak, bagels, hard or crusty breads, certain fruits and vegetables, chewing gum, popcorn, nuts, and candy should be avoided.

Hygiene care

Brushing and flossing are still essential in caring for your teeth. But with a temporary crown, you’ll need to brush gently and floss carefully to avoid dislodging it. Also, keep the area around the temporary crown clean to avoid infection.

Loosening crowns

Not following the tips mentioned above can lead to a loose temporary crown. If that happens, contact our team immediately to have it secured. If you don’t, you risk infection or further damage.

Permanent crowns can last between 5-15 years with optimal care. But until your permanent crown is ready, you must be diligent about caring for your temporary crown. If you need dental crowns, make an appointment with Dr. Kravets and All Bright Dental today.