Restoring your smile with a dental crown or bridge is a process that requires precision and care. You have just completed the first major step: the preparation of your tooth and the placement of a temporary restoration. While your custom-made permanent crown or bridge is being crafted in the laboratory, this temporary version plays a crucial role in your oral health.

At East El Paso Dentist on John Hayes St, we want to ensure your recovery is comfortable and your temporary restoration stays secure until your next visit. Proper aftercare during this interim period is essential for protecting your tooth and ensuring the final result fits perfectly. This guide will walk you through what to expect, what to eat, and how to care for your smile in the coming weeks.

Managing Numbness and Initial Comfort

When you leave our office at 2720 John Hayes, it is likely that your tongue, lips, and the roof of your mouth will still be numb from the local anesthetic. This sensation typically lasts for a few hours.

During this time, it is vital that you refrain from eating solid foods and drinking hot beverages. When your mouth is numb, you cannot feel temperature or pain properly. This makes it very easy to accidentally bite your cheek, tongue, or lip, or to burn yourself with hot coffee or soup. Wait until the anesthesia has completely worn off before attempting to eat a full meal.

Once the numbness fades, you may notice some tenderness. It is normal to experience some sensitivity to temperature (hot and cold) and pressure. The tooth has undergone a procedure, and the surrounding gum tissue may be slightly irritated. This sensitivity should subside a few weeks after the placement of the final restoration.

Pain Management

If you experience discomfort once the anesthesia wears off, over-the-counter pain medication can be very effective. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is often recommended as it helps reduce both pain and inflammation. If your pain gets progressively worse or is causing more than mild discomfort that medication can’t control, please contact our office immediately.

Eating with a Temporary Crown or Bridge

Your temporary restoration is made of acrylic or a composite material that is not as strong as the permanent ceramic or metal crown you will eventually receive. It is designed to be easily removed by your dentist, which means it is not cemented as permanently as the final version. Therefore, you need to be mindful of your diet to prevent it from breaking or popping off.

For the first 24 hours after your appointment, we recommend sticking to a soft food diet. This allows the temporary cement to set fully and gives your tooth a chance to settle.

Foods to Avoid

To protect your temporary, avoid:

• Hard, crunchy foods: Ice, nuts, hard candy, chips, and raw vegetables like carrots can crack the temporary material.
• Sticky foods: Gum, caramel, taffy, and gummy candies can grab onto the temporary and pull it right off the tooth.

Soft Food Recommendations

Here are excellent, safe options to keep you nourished without risking your dental work:

• Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, oatmeal, Greek yogurt, smoothies (no straw recommended if you had an extraction too).
• Lunch/Dinner: Mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, cooled soup (not piping hot), finely chopped chicken, ground beef, pasta.
• Snacks: Jell-O, apple sauce, pudding, ice cream.

If your temporary crown is on a front tooth, be extra careful. Avoid biting directly into foods like apples, sandwiches, or pizza. Instead, cut your food into small, bite-sized pieces and chew with your back teeth.

Hygiene: Brushing and Flossing

Keeping the area clean is just as important now as it is for your natural teeth. Plaque buildup around the temporary crown can cause gum inflammation, which might make fitting the permanent crown difficult or uncomfortable.

• Brushing: Brush your teeth regularly, at least twice a day. Be gentle around the gum line of the treated tooth, but ensure you are removing food particles and plaque.
• Flossing: Flossing requires a specific technique when you have a temporary. Slide the floss down between the teeth as usual. However, when removing the floss, do not pull it back up through the contact point. Pulling up can catch the edge of the temporary and pop it off. Instead, release one end of the floss and pull it out through the side.

Gum Sensitivity

If the gums around your temporary crown become sensitive or sore, rinsing with warm salt water can provide relief. Dissolve ½ teaspoon of salt in ½ cup of warm water. Rinse gently 4 times a day to soothe the tissue and reduce inflammation.

What to Do if Your Temporary Comes Off

Your temporary crown or bridge plays a vital role. It protects the prepared tooth from sensitivity, prevents bacteria from entering the tooth structure, and—most importantly—holds the space for your permanent restoration. If the temporary falls out, the adjacent teeth can shift position, or the gum tissue can grow over the margin, making it impossible to fit your permanent crown properly.

If your temporary crown breaks or comes off, please contact our office immediately. Do not try to tough it out until your next appointment. We will be happy to recement or repair it for you.

Your Next Steps

We are working diligently to have your custom crown or bridge crafted to perfection. By following these simple instructions, you help ensure that the final step of your treatment goes smoothly.

If you have any questions about your recovery, your diet, or if something feels “off” with your temporary, don’t hesitate to reach out.

East El Paso Dentist
2720 John Hayes, Suite 505
El Paso, TX 79938

Call or Text: (915) 201-5530

We look forward to seeing you at your next appointment to reveal your new, permanent smile!