Getting a dental crown is a very common treatment. In an ideal world, all of our patients would have healthy strong teeth that never needed repair, but the reality is that we perform crown procedures quite frequently and they’re essential to keeping your smile strong and healthy after something goes wrong. If you’ve just had a crown, here are some tips to keep you comfortable once you get home.
Be Careful When Eating & Chewing
If we used a local anesthetic (i.e. lidocaine) during your crown procedure, it may take a few hours for the numbness to wear off completely. During this time, we recommend avoiding eating or chewing. Believe it or not, people have a hard time knowing where their cheeks are when they can’t feel them. We don’t want you to bite yourself by mistake!
Adjust Your Oral Hygiene Routine as Needed
You can brush and floss your teeth as you normally would right away. You might notice sensitivity to hot, cold, or touch. If this happens, use a desensitizing toothpaste. As the dentist or hygienist to recommend a good brand for you. If the sensitivity lasts more that a few days, please call us so we can make sure nothing else is going on.
Relieving Discomfort
Gum soreness that lasts for several days after your crown treatment is normal. If soreness persists, try rinsing your mouth three times a day with warm salt water. This helps reduce swelling and discomfort. Our recommended salt water mixture is one teaspoon of salt per glass of warm water.
When to Call Us
If sensitivity, discomfort, or soreness increases after three or four days, please call us as it might be a sign of a complication or final adjustments that need to be made to the new crown. The same is true if your bite feels uneven. While we pride ourselves on getting it right the first time, dental restoration is a blend of science and artistry and it doesn’t always work out that way. Following a dental crown procedure or any other treatment at our office, please feel free to call us if you have any questions or concerns.