Here at North Texas Dental Associates, your dentists, Dr. Hillstrom and Dr. Paxton, commonly use a two-step process to restore a tooth with a dental crown. The first step involves creating an abutment out of the core of the tooth by removing the tooth enamel. Then, they will take an impression of the area and will secure a hard, plastic cap, which is called a temporary crown, in place. This will protect the abutment while the dental lab technician creates your new crown. You’ll need to take care of your temporary crown until your next appointment.
Brushing and flossing around a temporary crown is essential for maintaining healthy gums and helping the new crown seat comfortably in the gumline.
As you go about your day, you need to be mindful of the fact that a temporary crown is not as functional as a new crown. If possible, you should avoid chewing gum or eating sticking or hard foods on that side of your mouth. This could potentially pull the crown loose or crack the hard plastic.
If your temporary crown feels loose or is damaged in any way, you should seek immediate treatment at North Texas Dental Associates. If there are food or debris in your mouth, you should gently rinse them away with lukewarm saltwater. This will give you a clear view of the abutment and allow you to assess the situation.
You shouldn’t attempt any other cleaning treatments as this could potentially damage the sensitive abutment. Any other necessary measures should be left to the highly skilled hands of your dentists.
If you have any questions about how to care for a temporary crown in Plano, Texas, you need to call 972.535.6647 to have it treated at North Texas Dental Associates.