Crown or Bridge Preparation Post Operative Instructions
During your appointment, one or more of your teeth was prepped for a crown or bridge. A temporary crown was fabricated for each of the prepped teeth. Temporary crowns are cemented with a temporary dental cement to allow for easy removal at your next appointment. Temporary crowns are of universal size and shade. Your final restoration will be shaped and shaded to match your other teeth in both color and function. Your permanent crown will be back from the lab in 2 weeks.
Until your next appointment, please note that you:
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should avoid chewing on your temporary tooth/teeth until the numbness has worn off.
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may experience sensitivity to temperature and pressure, gum soreness and slight discomfort on the tooth / teeth; it should subside after the placement of permanent crown.
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should avoid hard or sticky foods that may dislodge temporary crowns, such as hard chewy breads such as bagels or French bread, chewy candies such as taffy, caramels or gum, hard crunchy foods such as corn nuts or popcorn kernels.
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should not bite into foods such as corn on the cob, apples, carrots and pretzel rods.
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may notice that your temporary crown is loose or may come off. If this happens, try to place it back onto the tooth and call the office at your convenience to get the crown re-cemented. Temporary cement is also available at most drug/grocery stores. (Please see “Post Op for Temporary Crown off” instructions.)
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may your mouth with Listerine™ mouthwash or warm salt water to minimize inflammation of the gum tissue.
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should remember to brush at least 3 times a day because acrylic temporaries attract more bacterial plaque than natural teeth.
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should floss at least once a day, but floss carefully and do not pull up on the floss which may dislodge the temporary. Pull the floss out from the side of the temporary crown.
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may experience sensitivity to hot or cold foods or beverages after treatment. Mild to moderate discomfort after dental work is common. An over the counter pain reliever/anti-inflammatory is recommended for patients who are able to tolerate them. (Tylenol™, Advil™, Aleve™, etc.)
If your discomfort increases, if your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call our office.