Post-Op-Temporary-Restorations
(Temporary Crown, Bridge or Veneer)
Temporary restorations are designed to cover and protect your tooth while the permanent restoration is being fabricated. This means that you will be wearing the temporary for approximately 2-3 weeks. These temporaries are usually made of acrylic or anodized aluminum and will not look or feel like your final restoration. The temporary is cemented with temporary cement; therefore, great care must be taken to avoid dislodging or breaking your temporary.
While wearing your temporary you may note that the surface may not be as smooth as your natural tooth surface, you may also notice that the temporary feels a little larger than your original tooth size. Please keep in mind that it is very common for your temporized tooth to exhibit sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures.
The following is a list of tips that can help you maintain the temporary:
Avoid chewing directly on the temporary. Try to chew on the other side if possible.
Avoid sticky, hard or crunchy foods.
Please do not chew gum.
Avoid extremely hot or cold foods and drinks.
Brush the area gently, but do not floss around the temporary. (This is the only situation that I’ll recommend that you shouldn’t floss)
Advil or Tylenol may be taken as directed on the bottle for any discomfort you may experience.
If your temporary works loose or comes off, that’s okay. Please call us as soon as possible and we will schedule an appointment for recementation.
POST-OP STAINLESS STEEL CROWN-SSC
You or your child has had a stainless steel crown placed on a primary or permanent tooth. These crowns are permanent crowns for “Baby Teeth” or permanent/interim crowns for permanent teeth.
Unlike a permanent crown, stainless steel crowns are mainly held in by cement. SSC are typically placed when the tooth is greatly decayed, there is insufficient tooth structure remaining to support a filling, or the tooth has had root canal therapy.
Following a new restoration, you should be aware of these items:
If you were anesthetized, the numbness will last approximately 2 – 4 hours. Please be careful to avoid biting your lip, tongue or cheek while numb. Also, avoid hot coffee or other beverages while numb.
It is common for children to bite themselves after anesthesia. The lip, tongue, or cheek may become swollen and/or discolored. This is NOT an allergic reaction. The swelling may worsen over the next 2-3 days. A yellowish, white plaque (soft scab) may develop. This is part of the healing process. The lesion will heal over the next 10-14 days. If your child complains of pain, you may give him/her children’s Tylenol or Advil and apply Orabase over the swollen areas.
It is common to experience soreness in the jaw around the site of the injection. If this doesn’t go away within 3 – 4 days, please let us know.
Do not eat anything sticky that will pull off the crown. (Example: jolly ranchers, fruit snacks, and tootsie rolls)If you experience a sensation that your teeth are not coming together properly or it feels “high”, please call us for a simple adjustment.
Advil, Motrin or Aleve is the recommended medication for any of these symptoms (for patients not allergic to these products).
Brush normally. While flossing, remove floss from the side. Do not take floss back through the teeth.
If for any reason the crown does come off, please contact our office as soon as possible. You will need to make an appointment as soon as possible to re-cement your crown.
If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call.
For more information call (915) 779-2621
