Your ‘temporary,” is exactly what it says, a temporary dental appliance that will be worn while your final dental crown or dental bridge is carefully crafted in our laboratory from the impressions we took at your first visit. Temporary dental bridges or crowns are placed to give protection to your gums and teeth up until you receive your permanent dental appliance. Moreover, the role of the temporary crown or bridge is to make sure that your adjacent teeth will not shift from place, so that when the dentist places the final dental appliance, it will fit perfectly in place.
There should never be persistent pain.. call the office if you feel intense pain or discomfort that last for more than two hours.
The temporary should normally stay in place quite well, but you might have to make some changes in your eating or oral hygiene habits while you are waiting for your permanent appliance.
In order to place the temporary crown, the dentist will use a local anesthetic. Normally, the effect lasts for up to 4 hours. You should take care not to damage your cheeks, tongue or lips, so avoid chewing or eating anything up until you feel that the numbness has gone.
- Avoid hard foods such as nuts, candy, or seeds while wearing your temporary. Remember, it was not made to be a permanent dental appliance. With too much pressure or shifting, while rare, it is possible to break your appliance. Place as little pressure as possible while chewing food and it is recommended that you avoid chewing on the side or you mouth that has the temporary.
- Make sure to brush and floss your teeth as you regularly do. While wearing a temporary, Always pull the dental floss from the side when you floss near the temporary tooth. If you try pulling the floss from the top to bottom as you the usual you might actually dislodge the crown. One of the dental assistants will instruct you on the proper flossing procedure while your temporary crown is in place.
Dentists use cement to make the temporary bridge stay in place. If, by any mistake, you dislodge the crown, never attempt to put it back on your own. Call your dentist and he will arrange to fit it back into position.
In case you feel that your bite is uneven after the temporary crown has been fitted, call your dentist and let him know. A simple visit to the office can be scheduled to adjust the crown for a more comfortable fit.
While some discomfort may occur there should never be persistent pain. Please do not hesitate to call the office if you have pain that last for more than two hours. If you have further questions or concerns, please call the office and one of our dental assistants will be happy give you answers.