Why a temporary crown?
A temporary crown is a provisional tooth, usually made of resin, placed on a prepared tooth while the final crown is being made. It protects the tooth, holds the spaces and lets you eat, talk and smile normally for a few days or weeks. It is not just a cover: it has several clinical functions.
- Protecting the prepared tooth. Exposed dentine is sensitive and lets bacteria through; the temporary covers it.
- Holding the space. Without it, the neighbouring teeth can drift and the opposing tooth can move closer, sometimes quite quickly, which would stop the final crown from fitting.
- Guiding the gum. It supports the gum contour, which matters for the appearance of front teeth.
- Acting as a trial. On a visible tooth, it lets you test the shape, length and speech comfort before the final crown is made.
The full crown process, from preparation to choice of material, is described in our article on dental crowns: steps and materials. Here we focus on the temporary phase, which is the one that raises the most questions.
The different types of temporary crown
Not all temporaries are the same. The dentist chooses according to how long it needs to last, the area and the number of teeth:
- The chairside temporary. Resin is moulded directly onto the prepared tooth using an impression of the original tooth. It is made during the appointment and is well suited to short periods.
- The milled or laboratory-made temporary. Cut from a denser block of resin, it is stronger, better polished and stains less. It is preferred when the temporary phase will last longer or involves several teeth. With in-house milling, this type of temporary can, depending on the case, be milled at the practice from the digital impression.
- The temporary bridge, which joins several prepared teeth and sometimes replaces a missing tooth.
- The temporary crown on an implant, usually screw-retained, which also helps shape the gum around the implant before the final crown.
In some situations, the final crown can be designed and fitted on the same day thanks to CAD/CAM, which avoids the temporary phase altogether. Our article on the same-day ceramic crown explains when this is possible and when it is not.
How long does a temporary crown stay in?
The duration depends on why you are waiting:
- For a conventional laboratory crown, the temporary phase generally lasts from a few days to a few weeks.
- After gum surgery or crown lengthening, the gum needs to heal and settle before the final impression, which lengthens the wait.
- After root canal treatment whose healing the dentist wants to check, it may be preferable to wait before the final crown.
- On an implant, the temporary accompanies the maturing of the gum and may stay for several months.
- When several teeth are being restored, temporaries are used to validate a new bite height and may be worn for longer, with check-ups.
A temporary is not designed to last indefinitely. Over time the resin wears, stains and its seal can let saliva and bacteria through. If the wait goes on, it is checked, recemented or replaced. Most important of all is to keep to the planned schedule: repeatedly postponing the fitting appointment exposes the tooth to decay or movement.
Eating, brushing and cleaning with a temporary
A few adjustments are enough to get through this period without problems:
- Straight after the appointment, wait until the numbness has worn off before eating, so that you do not bite your cheek or lip.
- Chew on the other side where possible, especially with firm foods.
- Avoid sticky foods: chewing gum, toffee, nougat, and also dates and fruit pastes, which can pull the temporary off.
- Avoid very hard foods: whole nuts, ice cubes, very hard bread crusts, bones.
- Tea, coffee and strongly coloured spices stain resin more easily than porcelain: this has no consequences for the final crown.
As for hygiene, do not neglect the area: inflamed gum bleeds at the fitting appointment and makes cementing the final crown more difficult.
- Brush normally with a soft brush, paying gentle attention to the line between the temporary and the gum.
- Floss, then slide the floss out sideways rather than pulling it upwards, so that you do not lift the temporary.
- A fine interdental brush, used without forcing, is a good alternative.
Temporary crown fallen out or broken: what to do
A temporary is fixed with a temporary cement designed to be removed easily, so it does sometimes come loose, and that is not your fault. What to do:
- Keep it, rinse it and store it in a small box.
- Call the practice promptly, ideally the same day or the next. A prepared tooth left uncovered becomes sensitive, and within a few days the gum or neighbouring teeth can move.
- If you cannot come in straight away, you can carefully put it back if it slides on easily, using a little temporary cement from a pharmacy. Bite gently to check that your teeth meet as before.
- Never use superglue or household glue: it damages the tooth and gum and can lock the temporary in the wrong position.
If the temporary cracks or breaks, keep the pieces, do not file it yourself and avoid chewing on that side. A sharp edge can be covered for the time being with a little orthodontic wax. The dentist repairs it or makes a new one, usually in the same appointment.
A temporary that keeps falling out is also worth mentioning: it may point to a very short tooth, a heavy contact in the bite or a clenching habit.
Sensitivity and gums: what is normal and what is not
During the first few days, some sensations are usual:
- sensitivity to cold or air on a living tooth, which gradually fades;
- slightly tender gum, or a little bleeding, after preparation and impressions;
- a different feel to the tongue, a little thicker or rougher;
- a shade slightly different from the neighbouring teeth.
Other signs mean you should call the practice without waiting for your planned appointment:
- spontaneous, throbbing pain that wakes you at night;
- pain with hot drinks that lingers afterwards;
- pain when biting, often caused by a temporary that is slightly too high and easy to adjust;
- sensitivity that increases instead of fading;
- swollen gum, an unpleasant taste or discharge around the tooth.
Preparing a living tooth can sometimes irritate the pulp, the living tissue inside the tooth. In most cases this irritation settles, but if it gets worse, root canal treatment may become necessary before the final crown. Reporting it early allows the decision to be made at the right time.
From temporary to final crown, in Agdal
The temporary phase is also the time to give your opinion. On a front tooth, say what you like and what bothers you: length, shape, colour, comfort when pronouncing certain sounds. The dentist can adjust the temporary and use it as a model for the final crown.
On the day of fitting, the temporary is removed, the tooth is cleaned of cement residue, and the final dental crown is tried in: fit, contacts with neighbouring teeth, shade and bite. It is then cemented or bonded depending on the material.
At German Dental Clinic in Agdal, intraoral scanning and in-house milling make it possible, depending on the situation, to shorten the temporary phase or to provide a milled temporary. If you live in Rabat and your temporary is causing problems, or you would like advice before a crown, you can book an appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Can a temporary crown be kept for several months?
Yes, when this is planned, for example on an implant, after gum surgery or during the restoration of several teeth. A stronger temporary is then used and checked regularly. However, a temporary is not meant to replace a final crown: over time the resin wears and its seal lets bacteria through, which exposes the tooth to decay.
Can I stick my temporary back on with superglue?
No. Household superglues irritate the gum, can damage the tooth and make the temporary very hard to remove. They may also fix it in the wrong position and trap bacteria underneath. If you cannot see the dentist quickly, use a temporary cement from a pharmacy, then call the practice to have it refixed properly.
Why is my temporary tooth a different colour from my other teeth?
Temporary resins come in a limited range of shades and do not reproduce the depth of a natural tooth. They also stain more quickly with tea, coffee or tobacco. The shade of the final crown is chosen separately and more precisely: use the temporary phase to tell the dentist what you expect.
Is it normal for the gum to bleed around a temporary crown?
Slight bleeding in the first few days is common, because the gum was disturbed during preparation and impressions. The edge of a temporary also holds more plaque than a final crown. Keep brushing the area gently but thoroughly. If the bleeding persists, or the gum swells or becomes painful, contact the practice.
I swallowed my temporary crown: is it serious?
In the vast majority of cases, a swallowed temporary passes through the digestive system and is eliminated naturally. Let the practice know so that a new temporary can protect the tooth. However, if you cough persistently, have difficulty breathing or feel chest pain after losing it, it may have gone into the airways: seek emergency medical care.
The information on this page is general. Only a consultation allows a diagnosis and a suitable treatment plan.
A question about your own situation?
Dr Fenjero Walid sees patients in Agdal, Rabat, for an assessment and answers that fit your case.
