After Crowns

Numbness and Local Anesthesia

• The local anesthetic used for a dental procedure will numb the region as few as 30 minutes or as long as 4-6 hours.

• It is normal to have some discomfort at the injection site for up to 2 to 3 days.

• In rare cases, topical anesthetic or local anesthetic can cause an inflammatory reaction in the soft tissue at the injection site. This most often looks like an ulcer or cold sore, but can also result in redness or more serious swelling in the area. If this happens, notify us immediately. This is rarely a true allergic reaction, but early treatment can prevent a painful sore from developing.

Sensitivity after Crowns

• Sensitivity is generally considered a normal occurrence in the immediate time after any procedure requiring the removal of tooth structure. We use several techniques to attempt to minimize post-operative sensitivity, like using a rubber dam to isolate the tooth, and sanitizing and applying a desensitizer to the tooth during the procedure.

• A crown preparation involves removing more structure than a basic filling, and sensitivity is much more common. Read below for specific instructions to limit sensitivity after the prep visit.

• Sensitivity is very uncommon, but not impossible, after cementing a final crown or bridge.

Eating, Drinking, and Mouth Care

• After your first visit, you will have a temporary crown on the tooth. This crown is not as strong as the final crown, and is placed with a temporary cement that allows the crown to be easily removed when the permanent crown is ready to deliver.

• Do not eat or drink for the first 30 minutes after your appointment to allow the cement to fully set.

• With a temporary crown, avoid chewy or sticky foods, chewing gum, or especially hard foods like nuts or hard candies. These can break the temporary crown or loosen the temporary cement.

  • A final crown should fit and function like your natural teeth. You should eat and drink normally.

• With a temporary crown, brush the teeth normally. When you floss, slide the floss down between the teeth, but do not pull the floss back up through the contact. Pull the floss out to the side (toward your cheek) to avoid pulling the temporary crown off of the tooth.

• A bridge requires much more effort to clean and maintain at home, because the replacement tooth (called the “pontic”) is joined to the teeth on either side. You must either thread floss underneath the replacement tooth (we have floss threaders to get you started) or use a Waterpik or other cleaning aide to remove debris and plaque from the bridge. Failure to properly clean the area at home is very likely to result in decay around the bridge, which will require a new bridge to be made.