Because temporary dental crowns are just that -- a temporary fix until a
permanent crown is ready, most dentists suggest that a few precautions be taken
with your temporary crown. These include:
Avoid sticky, chewy foods (for example, chewing gum,
caramel), which have the potential of grabbing and pulling off the crown.
Minimize use of the side of your mouth with the
temporary crown. Shift the bulk of your chewing to the other side of your
mouth.
Avoid chewing hard foods (such as raw vegetables),
which could dislodge or break the crown.
Slide flossing material out-rather than lifting
out-when cleaning your teeth. Lifting the floss out, as you normally would,
might pull off the temporary crown.
What Problems Could Develop With a Dental Crown?
Discomfort or sensitivity. Your newly crowned tooth may be sensitive
immediately after the procedure as the anesthesia begins to wear off. If the
tooth that has been crowned still has a nerve in it, you may experience some
heat and cold sensitivity. Your dentist may recommend that you brush your teeth
with toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth. Pain or sensitivity that occurs
when you bite down usually means that the crown is too high on the tooth. If
this is the case, call your dentist. He or she can easily fix this
problem.
Chipped crown. Crowns made of all porcelain can sometimes chip. If
the chip is small, a composite resin can be used to repair the chip with the
crown remaining in your mouth. If the chipping is extensive, the crown may need
to be replaced.
Loose crown. Sometimes the cement washes out from under the crown.
Not only does this allow the crown to become loose, it allows bacteria to leak
in and cause decay to the tooth that remains. If your crown feels loose,
contact your dentist's office.
Crown falls off.
Sometimes crowns fall off. Usually this is due to
an improper fit or a lack of cement. If this happens, clean the crown and the
front of your tooth. You can replace the crown temporarily using dental
adhesive or temporary tooth cement that is sold in stores for this purpose.
Contact your dentist's office immediately. He or she will give you specific
instructions on how to care for your tooth and crown for the day or so until
you can be seen for an evaluation. Your dentist may be able to re-cement your
crown in place; if not, a new crown will need to be made.
Allergic reaction.
Because the metals used to make crowns are
usually a mixture of metals, an allergic reaction to the metals or porcelain
used in crowns can occur, but this is extremely rare.
Dark line on crowned tooth
next to the gum line.
A dark line next to
the gum line of your crowned tooth is normal, particularly if you have a
porcelain-fused-to-metal crown. This dark line is simply the metal of the crown
showing through.
Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ, is a disorder of the temporomandibular joint(s) that causes signs and symptoms including ear pain, bite problems, headaches, dizziness, clicking sounds in the jaw, tinnitus and/or locked jaws. Behaviors or conditions that can lead to TMJ include teeth grinding or clenching, fingernail biting, habitual gum chewing, trauma to the jaw, stress, and occupational hazards. Treatment for TMJ may include heat, ice, a soft diet, antiinflammatory medications, physical therapy, stress management, occlusal therapy, correction of bite abnormalities, and surgery.
Toothache usually refers to pain around the teeth or jaws. In most instances, toothaches are caused by tooth or jaw problems, such as a dental cavity, a cracked tooth, an exposed tooth root, gum disease, disease of the jaw joint (TMJ), or spasms of the muscles used for chewing. A toothache can also be caused by a problem that does not originate from a tooth or the jaw, like diseases of the heart (angina or heart attack), ear infections, and sinus infections. A thorough oral examination, which includes dental X-rays, can help determine the cause.
An allergy refers to a misguided reaction by our immune system in response to bodily contact with certain foreign substances. When these allergens come in contact with the body, it causes the immune system to develop an allergic reaction in people who are allergic to it. It is estimated that 50 million North Americans are affected by allergic conditions. The parts of the body that are prone to react to allergies include the eyes, nose, lungs, skin, and stomach. Common allergic disorders include hay fever, asthma, allergic eyes, allergic eczema, hives, and allergic shock.
Gum disease is caused by plaque and may result in tooth loss without proper treatment. Symptoms and signs of gum disease (gingivitis or periodontal disease) include receding gums, bad breath and pocket formation between the teeth and gums. Treatment depends upon the stage of the gum disease, how you responded to earlier treatments, and your overall health.
Bruxism is the medical term for teeth grinding. Bruxism may be caused by stress or anxiety and often happens during sleep. Symptoms and signs include jaw pain, headache, and abnormalities in your teeth. Treatment may involve practicing stress-management techniques, cutting back on caffeine and alcohol, avoiding gum chewing, training oneself not to grind the teeth, and wearing a mouth guard.
Dental injuries range from a chipped or fractured tooth to a knocked out tooth. Treatment depends upon the severity of the dental injury. Dental injuries may be prevented by aligning protruding front teeth with braces and using face masks and mouthguards while playing sports.
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