After Your Crown Preparation

Temporary cement lets us remove the crown at your next visit. It can loosen, so take extra care with eating and cleaning.

Avoid sticky, chewy, or hard foods on that side: caramels, gum, hard candy, chewy bread, and raw vegetables can pull or crack the temporary.

Chew on the opposite side as much as possible until your ceramic crown is placed.

If your temporary crown comes off, call us promptly. Keep it and bring it to your visit. The uncovered tooth may be sensitive or shift, so do not leave it until your next scheduled appointment.

When flossing, slide the floss out sideways rather than snapping it up through the contact, which can lift the temporary off.

The tooth may be sensitive to temperature, pressure, or sweets after it is shaped for a crown. Mild sensitivity should gradually ease.

Sensitivity is typically most noticeable in the first few days and gradually improves as you get closer to your ceramic crown appointment.

Follow the pain-relief instructions we gave you at your visit.

Call if sensitivity is severe, keeps getting worse, or turns into throbbing pain that wakes you at night. We need to check the cause.

Your bite may feel slightly different or "high" after your appointment as the anesthesia wears off. We can check the bite and adjust it if needed.

Call if your bite feels uneven after numbness wears off, especially if the crowned tooth touches first or hurts with chewing. We can check it rather than waiting for it to settle.

Jaw soreness from holding your mouth open during the procedure is normal and typically resolves within 1–2 days. Warm compresses and over-the-counter pain relief can help.

Brush gently around the temporary crown twice a day to keep the tooth and gum line clean.

Rinse with warm salt water (½ teaspoon of salt in 8 oz of warm water) if the gum tissue around the crown feels tender or irritated.

A small amount of gum tenderness around the prepared tooth is normal for a few days. If the gum tissue becomes significantly swollen, bleeds easily, or does not improve, let us know.

These are general adult doses unless your dentist or physician directs otherwise. Patients with medical conditions, medication allergies, pregnancy, or other medicines may need a different pain-relief plan. Check with your dentist, physician, or pharmacist before using these doses if any of these apply.

For adult soreness, take ibuprofen 400–600 mg every 6–8 hours as needed, with food, if directed by your dentist.

If your dentist recommends both medicines, acetaminophen (Tylenol) 500 mg may be taken at the same time as ibuprofen, every 8 hours, for additional relief.

Use doses above package directions only if your dentist or physician specifically instructed you to. Follow your prescription or the package directions for dose limits and how long to use the medicine. Do not take multiple products containing the same active ingredient.