Do you have a severely damaged or decayed tooth that hurts to use? If so, then there’s a good chance your dentist will recommend placing a dental crown to protect it from harm while restoring its appearance and functionality. These tooth-shaped caps are usually made from resilient porcelain that can be customized to match the shade, size, and shape of your natural teeth for seamless results.
However, some patients are unsure what to expect from recovery, so they avoid scheduling their procedure. Continue reading to learn 3 things you can do to heal effectively once your prosthetic is placed!
Tip #1: Clean Your Mouth
Your dental crown can’t get cavities, but the underlying tooth is vulnerable to common dental problems like tooth decay and gum disease. If you develop an issue, your prosthetic can become destabilized or dislodged, which can chip, crack, or break it.
That means it’s essential that you stick with your usual at-home dental hygiene routine of brushing and flossing twice daily. If you’re feeling a little achy after having your restoration cemented over your troublesome tooth, you can rinse with warm salt water for the first day following your appointment. This acts as a natural disinfectant and rinses unwanted particles out of your mouth to keep it fresh and clean.
Tip #2: Address Discomfort
For your dental crown to fit, your dentist must remove a small amount of enamel from your natural tooth. This can cause mild to moderate sensitivity, especially when eating anything overly hot or cold.
It’s normal to experience some mild to moderate tenderness after this step, and this can sometimes be retriggered when your final restoration is placed. Thankfully, there are things you can do to address any associated aches.
For example, it’s usually safe to take over-the-counter medications like Tylenol or ibuprofen. You can also try applying a cold compress to that side of your face for 15 minutes at a time for a temporary numbing reprieve.
Tip #3: Watch What You Eat
Overly hard or sticky foods, like nuts, ice, candy, or taffy, can be problematic for your new tooth. They’re prone to chipping, cracking, or breaking the durable ceramic, or pushing or yanking it out of place.
You might want to stick to softer foods immediately following its placement to avoid triggering sore gums. Popular options include applesauce, eggs, mashed potatoes, blended fruit smoothies, yogurt, and pudding. Then, when you feel ready and able, you can begin reintroducing more solid foods back into your diet.
Now that you know more about how to take care of yourself after dental crown placement, there’s no reason to hesitate. Contact your dentist today to schedule your procedure!
About the Practice
Patients at Capron Park Dental benefit from a team of dentists with decades of combined experience helping people build and maintain happy, healthy smiles. Whether you need basic preventative care of a more complex procedure, like restoring a damaged tooth, they are experts who are eager to help. They provide a complete array of services to people of all ages so you and your family receive the same top-quality care. Then, they utilize state-of-the-art equipment to improve patient comfort while delivering accurate results. You can request an appointment on the website or call (508) 222-5950.