Once you’ve gotten a dental crown, you’ll likely want to make use of it. That’s only natural – the cap should eliminate your decayed or damaged tooth’s pain! Still, recovering from your dental crown treatment comes first; only then will you enjoy its results. The good news is that your Colorado Springs dentist is here to help you with the aftercare. To that end, here’s what you should expect after your dental crown is placed on your tooth.
What to Expect After Dental Crown Treatment
You’ll likely develop three short-lived side effects not long after your dental crown treatment. These are:
A Somewhat Numb Mouth
The anesthesia from crown treatment can persist, so your mouth may feel numb for a while. That means you’ll need to be careful of what you eat and drink, as you could injure yourself otherwise. You wouldn’t want to burn yourself from a very hot food or beverage right? That would just aggravate any previous bruising or inflammation at the anesthetic injection site.
Mild Oral Discomfort
When the anesthetic finally fades, your treated tooth will ache a bit. Rest assured that this reaction is normal; your pearly white lost some of its enamel. The pain will fade after a few days, ensuring you’ll soon be ready to enjoy a stronger and healthier tooth.
Slight Temperature Sensitivity
Be prepared for temperature sensitivity when your crowned tooth isn’t numb anymore. In particular, the treatment site may react intensely to hot and cold temperatures for a brief period. It could also be vulnerable to pressure when you bite down too hard.
If the sensitivity persists for a long time, there’s a good chance your dental crown fits poorly. You’ll need to talk to your dentist in that case.
How Should You Care for Your New Crown?
To manage post-treatment discomfort and care for your crown, remember to use the following tips and tricks:
- Don’t Have Hot Meals – To avoid self-inflicted burns, don’t drink hot liquids or chew hot foods until your mouth isn’t numb anymore.
- Use Pain Medication – If your post-treatment aches are hard to bear, don’t hesitate to use pain relievers like Advil or Tylenol.
- Swish with Salt Water – By rinsing your mouth with warm salt water, you can soothe its irritated tissues.
- Practice Good Oral Care – Even crowned teeth can decay, so always brush them twice daily and floss between them once daily.
Recovering from dental crown treatment isn’t a great process, but it’s still worthwhile. It’ll leave your tooth better than it was before!
About the Practice
Colorado Springs Complete Dentistry is based in Colorado Springs, CO. Led by the amazing Dr. Hayley Patterson, our practice is eager to help any and every smile! That means we tailor our preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments to your oral needs. Whether you want a dental checkup or a dental crown, trust our team to get the job done! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (719)-634-3204.