If you’ll soon have a dental crown treatment, you may have already prepped for it. Perhaps you even know how the procedure will work and what to do before your visit. That said, do you know what to expect from dental crown aftercare? It’s best to grasp that detail so you’ll have a smoother recovery process. Luckily, your Ramsey dentist can share the relevant facts with you. Read on to learn what happens after getting a dental crown and some tips on recovering.
What’s Involved in Dental Crown Aftercare?
Once your dental crown procedure is over, you’ll face three notable (but short-lived) side effects. These include issues like:
Temporary Numbness
Dentists apply anesthesia during dental crown work, so your mouth will likely feel numb after your treatment. You’ll want to be very careful of eating or drinking while under this effect, as you could easily injure yourself due to not feeling pain from a very hot food or beverage. That would aggravate bruising or inflammation at the anesthetic injection site.
Mild Post-Care Discomfort
Once your treatment’s anesthetic wears off, your crowned tooth may ache a little. That’s only natural – the treatment site lost some enamel, ensuring your dental crown could be placed. Still, the pain should go away after a few days or so. You’ll then be ready to enjoy a stronger and healthier tooth.
Some Temperature Sensitivity
Aside from some aches, a crowned tooth may feel sensitive to external forces while you recover. This sensitivity especially applies to hot and cold temperatures, which can prompt an intense reaction. The tooth could also be vulnerable to pressure when you bite down. Either way, the sensitivity usually stems from your crown fitting poorly. You’ll need to talk to your dentist if that issue applies.
How Should You Manage Dental Crown Aftercare?
Thankfully, you can take steps to make dental crown aftercare easier. The most notable of these actions are:
- Don’t Have Hot Liquids & Foods – While waiting for your treatment’s numbing effect to fade, don’t drink hot liquids or chew hot foods. You may burn yourself otherwise.
- Use Store-Bought Medicine – To ease your post-care discomfort, take over-the-counter pain relievers like Advil or Tylenol.
- Swish with Salt Water – It’s a good idea to rinse your mouth with warm salt water post-treatment. Doing so soothes your irritated mouth tissues.
- Practice Good Oral Care – Since crowned teeth can still decay, make sure to brush them twice daily and floss between them once daily.
When you know what to expect from dental crown aftercare, you can recover faster. That speedy healing should let you enjoy your protected tooth much sooner!
About the Practice
AV Dental Associates is based in Ramsey, NJ. Led by Dr. Arash Vahid, our office provides truly comfy and varied dental care for its patients. We offer a range of services that span preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, as well as emergency oral treatments. That means you can trust us to deliver what your smile needs! For more details or to book a visit, reach us at our website or by phone at (201)-962-8452.