Questions About Your Temporary

A temporary is a filling or crown that is placed until the permanent filling or crown is made and ready to be placed. It is normal for the gum around your tooth to be a little sore when the anesthesia wears off. This will disappear by tomorrow. Do your best to chew on the opposite side until your next appointment. Chewing sticky foods can sometimes dislodge it. It is not uncommon to have the following reactions or problems with the temporary.

• It feels rough. Please call us if it is making the tongue sensitive.
• It came off. This is probably the most common problem. It is supposed to come off easily and some foods will help this. Stay away from sticky foods or gum. It is important for it to be there, so call us so we can re-cement it or you can put it back in with a denture adhesive until you can get in.
• It feels high. Come in so we can adjust it. You can bruise a tooth if it is high.
• Its not how I want the permanent to look. Don’t worry, the permanent will look much better.
• It is sensitive. The temporary will not always fit as well as the permanent will, so there may be some sensitivity to hot and cold as well as chewing. If it is too uncomfortable, please call.

The temporary is very important. It protects the exposed dentin so it is not sensitive, prevents food from gathering in the preparation, and prevents the prepared tooth from shifting and moving making seating of the permanent more difficult. Use your toothbrush to clean the temporary as you normally do your other teeth. You will not be able to floss around your temporary as you may dislodge it.

If you have any questions concerning your temporary, please feel free to call. Remember, it will only be for a week or two and it will all be worth it when you get your beautiful permanent restoration.