Dental crowns work well for covering up damaged or weakened teeth. Smile Solutions of Maine offers professional dental crown services to help you regain your healthy smile. Our compassionate and experienced staff in Waterville and Winthrop, Maine, treats each patient with individualized care throughout the entire process. Keep reading to learn how to care for your new dental crown.

What is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a strong cap placed permanently over a tooth, protecting it and restoring its use. It is usually tooth-colored and carefully designed to fit in with your natural teeth. Your dentist may recommend a dental crown if you have a tooth that has been damaged, broken, or weakened due to a large cavity. The crown completely covers up the tooth and is durable enough to use for chewing and biting. With proper care, a dental crown can last 15 years or longer.

Dental Crown Post Op Care

Whenever you get dental care at Smile Solutions of Maine, you will be educated on the process and how to properly care for your teeth afterward. Here are a few tips to help you remember how to care for your dental crown right after the procedure and in the future.

Recovery Period

Immediately after the dental crown is cemented, you should refrain from eating or drinking anything. After an hour or two, you can eat and drink, but avoid chewing crunchy foods or hard candy with your new crown for about 24 hours. This gives the cement a chance to harden correctly.

For the first 48 hours after your dental crown has been placed, you may experience discomfort and sensitivity in the area where it was placed. For immediate relief, use a warm salt water rinse or mild pain reliever to help. Hot or cold foods and drinks may cause some pain or tooth sensitivity. This is normal following a dental procedure, and you can expect it to improve soon. 

Ongoing care for your dental crown

Proper home care is essential for the longevity of your new dental crown. Your new crown looks like a natural tooth and you can take care of it just like the rest of your smile. We recommend brushing twice a day and flossing at least once per day to remove food particles between your teeth. Pay attention to the gum line around the crown. Even though the crown cannot get a cavity, the areas directly around and beneath the crown can suffer from dental problems.

Regular dental checkups are essential. When you come in for a routine cleaning and exam, we keep a close eye on your tooth and crown, ensuring it still fits right and has not been damaged.

What to do if you notice anything wrong with your crown

We do our best to ensure your dental crown fits correctly and matches your natural bite pattern. However, if you notice that your crown doesn’t feel right after a few days, or if it seems too high or too low, you should call us. We will examine the crown again and make a quick adjustment. This helps your mouth feel better and keeps your new crown from becoming damaged due to too much bite force.

Can You Get Cavities Under Dental Crowns?

The crown is designed to protect your natural tooth from outside elements. However, there is a small space around the edges of the crown where plaque can build up and cause tooth decay. This is why brushing carefully at the gumline of your crowned tooth is important. If decay does occur under the dental crown, the dentist will need to remove the crown to treat it. Depending on the situation, you may need a new crown. 

You may not be able to notice if your tooth has a cavity. After all, it is covered up by the crown! Always go to your regularly scheduled dental checkups, so your dentist can examine all your teeth and find problems when they are small. If the cavity is left untreated, it could become large, painful, and require more costly restorations.

Dental Treatments in Waterville or Winthrop, ME

The dentists and staff at Smile Solutions of Maine are skilled and experienced in most types of dental restorations and treatments. If you have a concern about your smile, have us take a look. We’ll give you an accurate diagnosis and develop a personalized treatment plan so that you can enjoy better health. 

Contact us to schedule your next appointment. We welcome new patients and patients who have previously come to one of our dental offices in Waterville or Winthrop