If you recently saw your dentist for a severely damaged or decayed tooth or had a root canal procedure, you’ll likely be fitted with a dental crown. Historically, dentists required two appointments spread out over several weeks to fit you with this restoration. Thankfully, today they can provide one on the same day as your initial appointment using CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramic) technology.
Although this method reduces wait times, you might hesitate to schedule your procedure if you don’t know what recovery looks like. Continue reading to learn 3 helpful hints for healing quickly and without complications!
Tip #1: Eat Carefully
Your dentist will likely numb the area around your troubled tooth before starting your procedure to ensure you remain calm and comfortable the entire time. It can take a while for these medications to leave your system, so you might feel numb in your teeth, gums, lips, chin, and jaw for the remainder of the day after your appointment.
You should eat carefully during this time because you might accidentally bite your lip or burn the tender tissues if you’re not paying close enough attention. Then, for at least the first 24 hours, you might want to stick to softer, blander foods that won’t irritate your already sore mouth. Popular options include bananas, eggs, applesauce, yogurt, and mashed potatoes.
Tip #2: Clean Your Mouth
Your mouth is full of bacteria eagerly awaiting any opportunity to penetrate your enamel, roots, or connective tissues to cause decay, disease, or injuries. Usually, brushing and flossing twice daily is recommended to remove germs, plaque, leftover food, and other debris.
However, you should avoid your usual at-home dental hygiene routine for the first day with your dental crown because you might damage the bonding material holding it in place. You can rinse your mouth gently with warm salt water to act as a natural disinfectant and anti-inflammatory instead. Then, you can resume your regular regimen once you feel more comfortable.
Tip #3: Address Discomfort
It’s normal to develop some sensitivity after your enamel is thinned for your dental crown to fit correctly. Fortunately, the sensation usually peaks after a couple of days and then fades on its own, but you don’t have to live with aches in the meantime. Taking over-the-counter medications like Tylenol or ibuprofen is usually perfectly safe to reduce any associated throbbing.
If you experience a persistent or severe pain that doesn’t dissipate after a week or so, you should call your dentist so they can check whether your restoration fits properly and is working as intended.
If you’re still unsure what to expect from dental crown recovery, the best way to gather accurate information is to ask your dentist during your appointment!
About the Practice
At Lifetime Dental of Gainesville, you and your family benefit from two skilled dentists who share more than a decade of combined experience. Dr. Her and Dr. Pennington provide a comprehensive menu of top-quality services to people of all ages, including CEREC same-day dental crowns. They take the time to learn your unique concerns and goals, then utilize state-of-the-art technology to provide customized treatments to address them. You can receive a lifelike prosthetic on the same day as your appointment by contacting the office on the website or calling (770) 536-6688.