Dental Crown Care

If you have badly stained or chipped teeth, your dentist may have recommended dental crowns. A crown resembles a small jacket or cap that is placed over the natural tooth to enhance its appearance. Before your permanent crowns are placed on your teeth, temporary crowns will be used. Here are some tips to follow so that your dental crowns last as long as possible.

Temporary Crown Care

You'll need to wait a couple of weeks or so before you get your permanent crown because that's about how long it will take for the dental lab to create your permanent crown. While your temporary crown is in place, treat it as you would your natural tooth.

Continue to brush your teeth and eat as you normally would, however, avoid flossing as this could cause the temporary crown to fall off or dislodge from its proper placement. Eating hard foods should also be avoided. You may also notice mild sensitivity underneath your new dental crown, so if you do, avoiding sweets and hot and cold foods and beverages will keep you more comfortable. 

Permanent Crown Care

While permanent dental crowns are strong and durable, their strength does not match that of your natural teeth. Because of this, they should be treated with care. Like with your temporary crown, avoid hard foods such as nutshells and hard bread to reduce your risk for a crown fracture.

Your permanent dental crown can last for a decade or more with proper care. It is important to maintain a good oral hygiene routine to keep plaque formation to a minimum. When dental plaque and tartar builds up on the surface of your teeth and under your gum line, you may develop gum recession and infection, which may impair the integrity of your crowns.

You still need regular professional tooth cleanings by your dentist or hygienist, even if you have restorations such as crowns or veneers on most of your teeth. If your dental crown becomes loose, you can purchase a special dental cement at your local pharmacy to temporarily keep your crown in place until you can see your dentist.

Never use permanent bonding glue to glue your crown back on, as this could damage the surface of your crown.

Dental crowns can enhance your smile, so if you feel that you are a candidate for these dental restorations, make an appointment with your family dentist. For more information, reach out to a company like R2 Center for Dentistry today.