Repairing A Damaged Tooth With A Dental Crown

Depending on the type and extent of the tooth damage that a patient has suffered, a dental crown might be a necessary treatment. While these devices can allow patients to save severely damaged teeth, they are not a well-understood treatment despite being relatively common.

Be Mindful Of Your Temporary Crown

A patient's permanent crown will need to be custom-made to fit their tooth. As a result, they may need to go several days before they are able to get their permanent crown placed. During this period, the tooth is likely to be protected with a temporary crown. While this will be effective at avoiding further damage to the tooth, you will want to be mindful when eating to avoid damaging it. This will usually involve avoiding particularly hard or sticky foods because they could dislodge the temporary crown.

Take Your Time When Speaking Or Eating

Any type of major work to a tooth can result in your bite feeling different. This can lead to needing some time to fully adjust to their new crown. During this time, you could be particularly prone to biting their tongue or cheek. To reduce this risk, you should be mindful to take your time when speaking and eating for the first few days after receiving the crown. You will rapidly adjust to wearing the crown, and this will allow time for your mouth movements to adjust.

Make Sure To Clean Around The Base Of The Crown

Keeping a dental crown clean is important for a number of reasons despite the crown not being vulnerable to discoloration or cavities. In particular, cleaning the crown will help to prevent gum disease from forming due to these substances gathering along the base of the crown. When brushing the crown, you should pay particular attention to the base of the crown. This is where it is most important to remove these substances. In addition to avoiding gum disease, this can also prevent plaque or bacteria from gradually working its way under the crown.

Have Damaged Crowns Promptly Repaired

Over the course of time, your crown may eventually suffer some damage that will need to be repaired. For example, a crown may come loose, and this will result in it being at risk of falling off the tooth. If you ever notice any issues with your crown, you should have it inspected by a dentist as quickly as possible. This may allow for the problem to be repaired before the crown detaches or suffers other serious problems.

For more information, contact a dental clinic like the Four Corners Dental Group.