Caring for a Temporary Crown After a Root Canal

A root canal can save an infected tooth, but the procedure considerably weakens your tooth and leaves it vulnerable to future problems, including cracks and fractures. 

To protect your tooth and restore full function, you need a custom-fitted dental crown. In the meantime, you’ll have to go easy on the temporary one.  

At Bayside Dental Arts, Andrey Ilyabayev, DDS, provides a wide range of dental services as well as comprehensive aftercare advice. Here’s what you should know about caring for your temporary crown after receiving a root canal.  

Why temporary crowns are necessary 

If you’ve recently undergone a root canal, you’re likely aware of how fragile your teeth actually are. Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, but it’s far from indestructible or impermeable. 

When bacteria sits on the tooth’s surface, it forms plaque and tartar, which slowly eat away at your enamel. Once that layer has been breached, the bacteria is free to feast on the innards of your tooth, including the root pulp. 

Once the pulp has been infected, pressure builds inside your tooth until the pain sends you to a dentist, who will likely recommend a root canal. 

This procedure involves opening the tooth and clearing out the infected tissue, removing the pulp inside the root and scraping the canal clean. We fill your tooth with a sterile substance that hardens, and then you’re ready for the final step: restoration.

We take impressions of your teeth and send them to the lab for fabrication. In the meantime, we place a temporary crown that is closest in size to your tooth. You wear it until your permanent one is ready. Dental crowns reinforce and protect the tooth after your root canal. 

Caring for your temporary crown 

Temporary dental crowns are just that, temporary. While they look and function similar to a full crown, they aren’t sized to your tooth and they may not look natural. This means there is a chance you’ll experience an issue with your crown, even during the short time that you’re wearing it. 

To prevent your crown from coming loose or causing discomfort, take precautions in the days following a root canal. Be careful not to damage or dislodge it, don’t chew on that side, and avoid the following foods: 

• Popcorn
• Chewing gum
• Hard or sticky candy
• Tough meat, like steak 
• Nuts, ice, or crunchy food
• Hot or ice-cold beverages
• Apples, carrots, or other crisp produce
• Hard or chewy breads, including bagels

If your temporary crown comes loose or falls out, contact us immediately. Until we place the permanent crown, your tooth is extra vulnerable. 

Are you having trouble with a temporary crown? Get in touch with Dr. Ilyabayev and our team by calling our office in Bayside, Queens, in New York City, at 315-908-0804, or request an appointment online.