4 things you must know to care for your temporary dental crown

12 January 2016 by Milton Hayes

If your tooth is cracked, weak or dysfunctional because of erosion of the enamel, then you need not worry. The tooth can be fixed using an artificial crown. These crowns help the tooth to restore its strength, size, shape, and improve the appearance. It is important to get dental care and crown your tooth to protect the inner tissues from injuries and infection.

The process of getting your tooth crowned takes place in two stages. First, you will visit the dentist for an examination of the tooth. X-rays are used to check the condition and the extent of damage on the roots and other sensitive parts. After the diagnosis, the dentist will fit a temporary crown on the tooth as they manufacture the permanent crown in a laboratory. The permanent one is fitted during the second visit after a certain period as advised by the dentist. Before the permanent crown is fitted, here are a few ways you can take care of the temporary dental crown:

Sticky food

You should avoid chewy and sticky food such as caramel and chewing gum. They can cause a strain on the temporary crown as they hold on to the fitting. Sticky foods make the crown loose. They can also dislodge it from the area that it has been fixed. Once the crown has been pulled off by chewy food, you risk infecting the inner tissues of the tooth.

How to chew

Minimise using the side that has the temporary crown as much as possible. After the temporary crown has been fitted, the pain will subside after some time. You may feel comfortable chewing food on that side but it is prudent to reduce the activity on that side. Particularly, you should avoid hard foods such as nuts, which can assert much pressure over the temporary crown and break it.

Cleaning your teeth

You have to maintain your regular tooth cleaning practices as much as you have a temporary crown. When brushing, be gentle such that the bristles of the brush do not remove the crown or make it loose. Preferably, gaggle some fresh water immediately after having meals to remove any food residue. This will also help to minimise the effort used to brush the teeth.

When flossing, slide the material used to floss the teeth out rather than lifting it out. If you lift the floss out, it may pull the temporary crown off and you may have to go over the process of having another one fitted.   

  

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