After Crowns or Bridges

Crowns and bridges usually take two appointments to complete.  On the first appointment the teeth are prepared.  Temporary crowns or bridges are placed to protect the teeth while the custom restoration is being made.  When anesthetic has been used, your lips, teeth, and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment.  Avoid any chewing until the numbness has completely worn off.

 

On rare occasions temporary crowns come off or break.  Call us if this happens, and keep the temporary so we can re-cement it or make a new one.  It is very important for the proper fit of your final restoration and comfort of the tooth that temporaries stay in place. To help keep your temporary in place, avoid eating sticky foods (especially gum), hard foods, and if possible, chew only on the opposite side of your mouth.  It’s important to continue to brush normally, but floss very carefully and remove the floss from the side to prevent removal of the temporary crown.

 

It is normal to experience some hot, cold, and pressure sensitivity after each appointment.  Your gums may be sore for several days.  Rinsing 3-4 times a day with warm salt water (1Tsp of salt in a cup of warm water, rinse-swish-spit) can be used to reduce any pain and swelling.  Over the counter pain medications such as Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or Acetaminophen (Tylenol) will relieve most, if not all, discomfort.  You may have been given a prescription for additional pain medication which should be taken as prescribed if needed. 

 

If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office.