Getting a dental crown can be a nerve-wracking experience for anyone, but the procedure is nothing to be afraid of. Think of your crown as a deluxe filling – the Cadillac of fillings, if you will. A crown is a great way to restore your tooth without being obvious. If your dentist recommends you have a crown put on, congratulations – most likely your natural tooth can be saved!

One of the first stages of getting a crown is getting a temporary crown. A temporary crown acts as a placeholder for your permanent crown, which must be created at a dental laboratory. The average permanent crown can take several weeks to be created, but it’s well worth the wait. It will look and feel almost as natural as the rest of your teeth. In fact some people can’t tell the difference between their permanent crowns and their natural teeth!

But before you can get your permanent crown, you’ll need that temporary crown. When you get the temporary crown placed, there are a few things you need to remember about caring for it. Here are some tips for caring for your temporary crown while it pays a short visit to your mouth.

  1. Don’t eat anything too chewy or crunchy. That’s because the temporary crown isn’t adhered to your tooth as well as your permanent crown will be. Your temporary crown is meant to be removed, so it's not adhered to the tooth as well as your permanent crown will be. It’s also not as strong as your permanent crown will be.
  2. Avoid chewing with your temporary crown. When you chew, push your food to the side of your mouth that does not have the temporary crown on it.
  3. Floss carefully. When you floss around your temporary crown, do not pull the floss back and forth; pull it through in one direction.
  4. You can brush your temporary crown just as you would your natural teeth, but brush gently!

If your crown breaks or falls off and it is after hours, there are temporary adhesives designed specifically for reattaching crowns. However, they are not made for long-term use, so definitely call Dr. Lederman’s office when it opens to schedule a time to have it reattached.

Dr. Lederman’s office can be reached 516-882-1764.