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Dental crowns and bridges take 2 visits to complete.  On the first appointment, the tooth/teeth are prepared, impressions are taken, and a temporary crown/bridge is placed on your tooth/teeth. A custom fit temporary restoration will be fabricated to protect your teeth and gum tissue while your permanent crown or bridge is being created at the dental laboratory. The temporary also prevents the tooth from shifting or moving, so it is essential that the it stay in place for the duration of the time in between appointments. 

While your temporary is in place it is important to keep your gum tissue as clean and healthy as possible. You may need to alter your oral hygiene habits in the interim as temporary restorations are cemented with a special cement that is designed to come off easily. Continue to thoroughly brush and floss everyday. However, when flossing, take special care to pull floss out from the side rather than out from the top. Pulling out from the top can cause the temporary to come loose. If your temporary does come off, call us immediately so we can arrange to cement it back into place. Do not attempt to “glue” the temporary crown back in yourself or “go without it” as the teeth may become sensitive or shift slightly, preventing placement of the permanent crown. You can use a denture adhesive like Fixodent or toothpaste to hold the crown or bridge temporary in until you can get to our office.

Once your permanent crown or bridge is cemented, it is important to remember that these porcelain restorations do not decay, but the teeth underneath them do. The most susceptible area for decay is at, or below, the area where the tooth and restoration meet. If this area is not routinely cleaned bacterial plaque will form around the restoration, which oftentimes lead to decay. This is the most common reason for needing to replace permanent crowns and/or bridges. Therefore, it is important that you maintain a diligent daily home care program to clean your teeth and gums.

Fixed dental bridges require addition cleaning under the pontic (missing tooth). Since this “false tooth” is connected to the adjacent teeth a bridge threader is used to thread floss under it to remove plaque. These are readily available at most pharmacies. We would be happy to demonstrate how to use them for you.

Although your temporary restoration should be very comfortable, you will need to alter your chewing habits to ensure the temporary stays in place in the interim in between appointments. Avoid chewing hard and sticky foods on the temporary crown such as gum, caramels, taffy or hard candy. Also, if possible, chew on the opposite side of your mouth. If your bite feels uneven or your teeth do not come together as they did before please contact us immediately.

After the permanent restoration is placed it is normal to feel slight pressure and sensitivity to hot or cold for a few days. If, however, after 2-3 days your bite still feels uneven or if you feel discomfort when chewing on the tooth, call our office. Delaying the necessary adjustments may damage the tooth permanently. If the sensitivity gets increasingly worse or does not begin to subside after several weeks, please call our office.