Dental Crowns: Aftercare Everyone Must Observe

Dental crowns are fixed prosthetic devices that are attached to existing teeth by a dental professional. They are tooth-shaped “caps” that are designed to go over a tooth and cover it to restore its shape and improve its appearance.

Dental crowns

Dental crowns near you are necessary for a variety of reasons, including:

• Protect a weak tooth
• Cover a dental implant post
• Restore a severely worn down or an already broken tooth
• Hold a dental bridge in place
• Cover discolored or misshapen teeth
• Cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there is not enough tooth structure remaining
• Make a cosmetic modification

Caring for your temporary dental crowns

Getting a dental crown involves two dental visits. At the first visit, the dentist will examine and prepare the tooth. An impression of the tooth is necessary to serve as a model to craft the permanent crown. Then, a temporary crown is placed to protect the exposed portions of an exposed tooth until the permanent placement is ready. In order to keep the temporary crown intact, we at Willow Wood Dental prepared a list of tips patients must follow:

• Avoid sticky, chewy foods, such as chewing gums and caramels, because these substances have the potential of pulling the crown off.
• As much as possible, minimize the chewing force applied on the temporary crown; instead, chew on the opposite side of the mouth.
• Avoid chewing hard foods as it can potentially dislodge or break the temporary crown.
• Use dental floss carefully. Slide it rather than lifting out the dental floss when cleaning between the teeth to avoid pulling the dental crown off.
• Make sure to clean the gums regularly aside from just the teeth, as they can be sore after the treatment.

Taking care of the permanent crowns

After the permanent crown has been placed, it is crucial to follow the same precautionary measures mentioned above during the first few days after the procedure. To keep dental crowns from being damage, patients must also observe the following:

Practice good oral hygiene: Dental crowns are known to stain-resistant. However, the area where the crown and natural tooth meets needs to be cleaned thoroughly, as this area has the potential to develop cavities or gum disease.

Minimize biting force: Dental crowns are not as durable as healthy teeth. That is why it is recommended that biting on hard objects and foods should be avoided as they can damage the crown. To avoid damaging the crown due to excessive biting pressure, getting a night guard or a mouth guard is recommended to protect the restoration as well as the remaining teeth.

Aiming to restore your teeth as natural as it was before? Contact us to know more about Dental Crowns in Livonia, MI, or to schedule your appointment with Willow Wood Dental.