How to Take Care of Your Temporary Dental Crown
A temporary dental crown protects your prepared tooth, maintains spacing, and gives you and your dentist a preview of how your permanent crown will look and feel. Most temporary crowns stay in place for one to three weeks and require specific care during this time to ensure your permanent restoration fits accurately. Following a few straightforward guidelines can help you avoid discomfort, dislodgement, and unnecessary delays in your treatment.
Why Your Temporary Crown Matters
Temporary crowns are made from a softer, provisional material and secured with temporary cement — which makes them more vulnerable than permanent restorations. Understanding what your temporary crown does helps explain why caring for it carefully is so important.
- Protection: It shields the prepared tooth from temperature sensitivity, bacteria, and physical damage while your permanent crown is being fabricated.
- Stability: It prevents neighbouring and opposing teeth from drifting into the space, which could affect how well your dental crown in Calgary NW fits when it is placed.
- Function and aesthetics preview: It allows you and your dentist to evaluate the shape, size, and bite before the final restoration is cemented.
Essential Care Tips for Your Temporary Crown
Watch What You Eat
Your diet is one of the most important factors in keeping your temporary crown in place. Certain foods can pull the crown off or crack the provisional material. During your provisioning period, follow these food guidelines:
- Avoid sticky and chewy foods: Caramel, chewing gum, toffee, and gummy candies can grip the crown and pull it off the tooth.
- Avoid hard foods: Nuts, hard candies, crusty bread, and raw vegetables like carrots place excessive force on the provisional material.
- Avoid extreme temperatures: Your prepared tooth may be sensitive to very hot or very cold foods and drinks. Opt for lukewarm or room-temperature options where possible.
- Chew on the opposite side: Wherever possible, shift chewing to the other side of your mouth to reduce stress on the temporary crown.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene — Gently
Keeping your mouth clean is essential while wearing a temporary crown, but your technique needs to be a little more careful than usual.
- Brush gently around the crown: Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and avoid aggressive scrubbing near the temporary restoration.
- Floss with care: Continue flossing daily, but instead of snapping the floss upward between the teeth (which can dislodge the crown), slide it out gently to the side.
- Avoid water flossers on high pressure: High-pressure water flossers directed at the temporary crown may loosen the temporary cement.
- Rinse regularly: A gentle warm saltwater rinse can help keep the area clean and reduce any minor gum irritation around the provisional crown.
Maintaining good hygiene supports your overall oral health during this period. If you are due for a cleaning, our dental hygienist in Calgary can advise you on how to safely clean around a temporary restoration.
Protect Against Grinding and Clenching
If you grind or clench your teeth — a condition known as bruxism — your temporary crown is at increased risk of cracking or coming loose. Let your dentist know about any grinding habits before your temporary crown is placed. A night guard may be recommended to protect the provisional restoration while you sleep. If you already have a night guard, continue wearing it as directed.
Know the Signs That Something Is Wrong
Mild sensitivity and minor gum tenderness around a temporary crown are normal in the first few days. However, some symptoms warrant a prompt call to your dental clinic:
- The crown feels loose, rocks, or has come off completely
- You notice a sharp edge or your bite feels significantly uneven
- Pain or sensitivity that worsens rather than gradually improves
- Visible cracks or chips in the provisional material
- Swelling, persistent bleeding, or signs of infection around the tooth
If your temporary crown comes off, keep it safe and contact your dental clinic as soon as possible. Leaving the prepared tooth unprotected — even for a short time — can cause sensitivity, shifting, and complications that may affect your final crown fit. If you are experiencing significant pain, our emergency dental care team is available to help.
What to Do If Your Temporary Crown Falls Off
If your temporary crown comes loose or falls out completely, do not panic. Here is what to do:
- Retrieve and clean the crown gently — do not attempt to force it back into place yourself without guidance.
- Contact your dental clinic as soon as possible to arrange re-cementation.
- If you cannot reach your clinic right away, temporary dental cement (available at most pharmacies) can be used as a short-term measure to seat the crown gently while you wait for your appointment.
- Avoid eating on that side of your mouth until the crown has been professionally re-cemented.
What Happens After Your Temporary Crown Is Removed
Once your permanent crown is ready — typically within one to three weeks — your dentist will remove the temporary crown, clean the prepared tooth, and cement the permanent restoration in place. At this appointment, your dentist will check the fit, bite, and appearance before final cementation. Caring properly for your temporary crown during the waiting period means this final step is more likely to go smoothly, without the need for adjustments or re-preparation.
If your crown is being placed as part of a larger restorative plan — such as following a root canal treatment in Calgary NW — your dentist will give you specific aftercare instructions suited to your individual situation.
Book Your Dental Crown Appointment at Expressions Dental in Calgary NW
At Expressions Dental, our licensed dental team guides you through every stage of crown treatment — from tooth preparation to final placement — with clear instructions and attentive care. If you have questions about your temporary crown, need it re-cemented, or are ready to begin your crown treatment, we welcome patients from across Calgary NW and surrounding areas.
Learn more about dental crowns at Expressions Dental or contact our clinic to book your appointment today.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a temporary dental crown stay on?
A temporary dental crown is typically worn for one to three weeks while your permanent crown is being fabricated at a dental laboratory. Your dentist will let you know the expected timeline at your preparation appointment. It is important to follow all care instructions during this period to keep the temporary crown in place.
Can I eat normally with a temporary dental crown?
You can eat most soft foods with a temporary crown, but you should avoid sticky, chewy, and hard foods that can pull the crown off or crack the provisional material. Examples to avoid include chewing gum, caramel, nuts, and crusty bread. Chewing on the opposite side of your mouth whenever possible will also help protect the temporary restoration.
What should I do if my temporary dental crown falls off?
Contact your dental clinic as soon as possible if your temporary crown comes off, as the prepared tooth underneath needs to be protected. You can use over-the-counter temporary dental cement from a pharmacy as a short-term measure while you wait for your appointment. Do not leave the tooth unprotected for an extended period, as it can become sensitive and neighbouring teeth may begin to shift.
Is it normal to have sensitivity with a temporary dental crown?
Some sensitivity to hot, cold, and pressure is normal in the first few days after your tooth is prepared and the temporary crown is placed. This sensitivity should gradually improve as you get closer to your permanent crown appointment. If pain worsens or becomes persistent, contact your dental clinic, as this may indicate an issue with the fit or an underlying concern.
Can I floss around a temporary dental crown?
Yes, you should continue flossing daily around a temporary crown, but your technique needs to be adjusted. Rather than snapping the floss upward out from between the teeth — which can dislodge the crown — slide the floss gently out to the side. Keeping the area clean helps prevent gum irritation and decay on the prepared tooth during the provisional period.
Will my permanent crown look and feel exactly like my temporary one?
Your temporary crown gives you and your dentist a general preview of the shape and size of the final restoration, but the permanent crown will be more precisely fitted, more durable, and made from higher-quality material such as porcelain or ceramic. Minor adjustments are common between the temporary and permanent stages based on your feedback and your dentist's assessment.
What happens if I leave a temporary crown off for too long?
Leaving a prepared tooth unprotected — even for a short period — can cause increased sensitivity, bacterial exposure, and neighbouring teeth drifting into the space. This drifting can make it harder for the permanent crown to fit correctly, potentially requiring additional work. If your temporary crown comes off, contact your dental clinic promptly or visit our walk-in dental care team in Calgary NW for same-day assistance.