Crowns and Bridges Post Operative Instructions

Refrain from eating at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off.

Temporary:

A temporary is a crown or bridge that is placed on the prepared teeth while the final restoration is being made. The temporary serves a very important purpose. It protects the exposed dentin so it is not sensitive, prevents food and bacteria from collecting on the prepared teeth, and prevents the tooth from shifting or moving, which can make seating of the final restoration more difficult.

The temporary is placed with lightweight cement that is designed to come off easily so avoid chewing sticky foods such as gum, caramels, etc.

Use your toothbrush to clean the temporary as you normally do your other teeth. However, when flossing, it is best to pull the floss through the contact rather than lift up on the temporary so you don't accidentally loosen the temporary. If your temporary comes off between appointments, slip it back on and call our office so that we can recement it for you. A little denture adhesive placed inside the crown can help to hold it in place in the interim.

Your tongue is very sensitive to the space it occupies, so even a small change in size between the temporary and your original tooth will make you feel as if the temporary is huge. Your tongue will adapt in a day or two.

Sensitivity:

Sensitivity, especially to cold, is common for a time following treatment. For the first few days avoid extremely hot or cold foods and beverages. It is normal to have discomfort in the gums around the tooth after the anesthesia wears off due to the procedure.

If your gums are tender, rinse with warm salt water, dissolving 1/2 teaspoon of salt in an 8 oz. glass of warm water. An analgesic such as Tylenol or Advil will help to increase your comfort.

Final Crown or Bridge:

For almost all crowns and bridges that we place, they are initially placed with a temporary cement. This is a trial period - your opportunity for a "test drive" if you will. Use this time to evaluate appearance, bite, ability to keep it clean, flossability, trapping of food, etc. It should be comfortable so that you really do not think about it. As long as it is temporarily cemented, we can still make any changes that may be necessary. Once it is permanently cemented, we can only modify your bite. So, make sure you use it to see how it works.

Home Care:

Although crowns and bridges are often the most durable of all restorations, the underlying tooth is still vulnerable to decay, especially at the interface between the tooth and crown. It is important to resume regular brushing and flossing immediately. Daily home care and regulating your intake of sugar-containing foods will increase the longevity of your new restorations.