Crown & Bridge Post-Procedure Instructions

Crown and bridge procedures involve two visits at Smile Science Dental Spa. At the first visit, the tooth is prepared, a digital impression is taken, and a temporary crown is placed to protect the tooth while your permanent crown is being fabricated. At the second visit, the temporary is removed and the permanent crown is cemented. Each stage has its own care requirements -- follow the section that applies to where you are in your treatment.

After Temporary Crown Placement

• Wait until numbness fully resolves before eating. The anesthetic from preparation can last 2 to 4 hours. Eating while numb risks biting your cheek, lip, or tongue without noticing.
• Avoid sticky, chewy, or hard foods on the temporary crown side. Temporary crowns are held with soft, temporary cement by design -- they are meant to be removable at your next visit. Sticky foods (caramel, gum, taffy, chewy candy) can pull the temporary off the tooth. Hard foods (ice, hard candy, crusty bread) can crack it.
• Chew on the opposite side when possible. Distributing bite pressure away from the temporary reduces the chance of displacement or fracture.
• Floss carefully around the temporary crown. Slide floss in from the side and pull it through horizontally -- do not pop it up through the contact, which can catch on the temporary and lift it off the tooth. Ask us to demonstrate if you are unsure.
• Some sensitivity and gum soreness is normal. The tooth was reshaped, which generates mild inflammation in the nerve and surrounding gum tissue. Cold sensitivity, achiness, and gum tenderness typically peak in the first few days and gradually improve. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed manages discomfort.
• If your temporary crown comes off: Keep it -- do not throw it away. Call our office promptly. Leaving the prepared tooth unprotected allows sensitivity, shifting of adjacent teeth, and potential for the final crown to not fit as planned. In some cases we can re-cement the temporary the same day.

After Permanent Crown Delivery

• Bite carefully for the first hour. The permanent cement requires time to fully set. Avoid very hard or sticky foods on that side for the first 24 hours as a precaution.
• Your bite may feel slightly different at first. After being numbed and having your bite evaluated while partially numb, the final bite check can be imprecise. Most patients adapt within a day or two as muscles readjust. If your bite still feels "high" -- if the crown contacts before your other teeth do -- call us for a quick bite adjustment. This is a routine, comfortable appointment.
• Temperature sensitivity is common for 1 to 2 weeks. A crowned tooth can be temporarily sensitive to cold and occasionally to heat. This typically resolves as the nerve settles. Using a sensitivity toothpaste (Sensodyne or similar) and avoiding very cold beverages can help during this period.
• Gum soreness around the crown margin is normal for 1 to 2 weeks. The gum tissue was manipulated during both the preparation and delivery appointments. Light pink or slightly tender gums at the gumline are expected. Gentle brushing along the gumline and salt water rinses help the tissue heal.
• Floss daily around the new crown. Plaque accumulates at the crown margin and beneath bridge pontics. Regular flossing is essential to protect the gum tissue and the tooth structure beneath the crown. For bridges, use a floss threader, proxy brush, or water flosser to clean under the pontic.
• If sensitivity is increasing rather than improving after 2 weeks, or if you experience spontaneous pain -- pain not triggered by temperature or biting -- call our office. Rarely, a tooth that has been prepared for a crown may require root canal treatment if the nerve was already compromised. This is an uncommon outcome but one we will evaluate if symptoms persist.

Ongoing Crown Care

• Brush and floss your crown exactly as you do natural teeth. A crown protects the prepared tooth above the gumline, but decay can still develop at the margin where crown meets tooth. Plaque removal at the gumline is as important as ever.
• Avoid using the crowned tooth to open packaging or chew ice. Porcelain and zirconia are durable but can chip or fracture under impact forces. The habits that crack natural teeth will crack crowns as well.
• If you grind your teeth at night, ask us about a nightguard. Grinding generates forces far beyond what normal chewing produces and is one of the most common causes of crown fracture and premature failure.

Questions during your healing period are always welcome. Call Smile Science Dental Spa at (480) 530-3663 or visit us at 20118 N 67th Ave Ste 308, Glendale, AZ 85308.