What is a temporary crown?
A temporary crown is a short-term cover placed over a tooth that has been prepared for a final crown. It is not the finished restoration. It covers the reshaped tooth and helps hold the space until the final crown is fitted at a later visit.
The Australian Dental Association explains the usual two-visit path: after the tooth is reshaped and records are taken, the dentist places a temporary plastic crown over the prepared tooth before you leave. At the second visit the temporary is removed and the final crown is cemented onto the natural tooth structure (teeth.org.au). Healthdirect notes that some crowns can be made and fitted on the same day; for others you return for a second visit when the final crown is ready (healthdirect). Better Health Channel describes crowns as caps cemented or bonded onto prepared teeth (Better Health Channel).
This page is about looking after that temporary cover in the short gap before the final crown. It is not a guide to long-term care of a finished crown. For that, see caring for dental crowns — a complement, not a retell. It is also not a price list, not personal treatment advice, and not an explanation of why your tooth needed a crown.
How should I chew and eat with a temporary crown?
Chew on the other side of your mouth while the temporary is in place. A temporary crown is held with temporary cement by design, so heavy load on that tooth can loosen or dislodge it.
Avoid very sticky, hard or chewy foods on that tooth. Examples include toffee, hard lollies, and crusty bread chewed on that side. Prefer softer options on the temporary side until the final crown is fitted. This is day-to-day caution, not a claim that one awkward bite will destroy the tooth.
If that side already feels tender when you bite, keep load off it and mention it at your next visit to AMK Dental Clinic in Mortlake.
How do I brush and floss around a temporary crown?
Keep brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste twice a day, including along the gumline beside the temporary (Better Health Channel; teeth.org.au). Clean carefully rather than scrubbing hard sideways.
When you floss beside a temporary crown, slide the floss out sideways instead of snapping it up through the contact. Pulling straight up can catch under the temporary margin and lift it off. The Australian Dental Association still recommends cleaning between teeth every day with floss or another interdental aid (teeth.org.au flossing). See how to floss properly for general technique; the sideways exit is the temporary-specific step.
If floss shreds, snags, or will not pass where it used to, stop forcing it and phone the clinic for advice.
What if the temporary comes off, rocks, feels sharp, or the tooth is sore?
Phone AMK Dental Clinic the same day if the temporary crown comes off, rocks when you bite, feels sharp against your tongue or cheek, or the tooth is very sore. Bring the temporary with you if you still have it so the dentist can see what came off.
Do not stick it back with household glue, superglue or chewing gum. Do not force it on. Those products are not made for the mouth and can irritate soft tissues or trap debris against the prepared tooth. Healthdirect lists a crown coming loose, breaking, chipping, cracking or falling off among possible problems that need review (healthdirect).
Until you are seen, chew on the other side and keep the area clear of sticky foods. If a filling has come out rather than a temporary crown, follow what to do if a filling comes out instead.
Why keep the appointment for the final crown?
Keep the visit for the final crown even if the temporary feels comfortable. A temporary is short-term by design. It bridges the gap until the final restoration is fitted; it is not meant to replace that appointment.
If the temporary comes off before the planned visit, call rather than waiting. The prepared tooth should be reviewed and protected again as needed. Do not assume the temporary will stay put until the next booked date — no lifespan is promised here.
Some people have same-day crown pathways where a temporary may not be needed; when your plan includes a temporary, treat that gap as part of the treatment sequence. You can read more about same-day options on our CEREC same-day crowns page, and about longer-term care once the finished crown is in place in caring for dental crowns.
Booking help at AMK Dental Clinic in Mortlake
Day-to-day care of a temporary crown means chewing on the other side, avoiding sticky or hard foods on that tooth, sliding floss out sideways, and phoning the same day if it comes off, rocks, feels sharp, or the tooth is very sore. Keep the final-crown appointment, and call early if the temporary fails beforehand.
AMK Dental Clinic is at Shop 3, 46 Tennyson Road, Mortlake NSW 2137, serving Mortlake and nearby suburbs including Breakfast Point, Cabarita, Concord, Rhodes and North Strathfield. Call (02) 9739 6525, contact us, or follow how to book an appointment at AMK. Opening hours are on the Contact page. A check-up and clean is separate from crown fitting visits. This article is general information only.
This article is general information only and is not a substitute for advice about your own situation. Please speak with a dentist about your needs.
Common questions
What is a temporary crown for?
A temporary crown is a short-term cover placed over a tooth that has been prepared for a final crown. The Australian Dental Association notes that after the tooth is reshaped at the first visit, a temporary plastic crown is put over it until the next appointment, when the temporary is removed and the final crown is cemented. It holds space and covers the prepared tooth. It is not the finished restoration. Ask at AMK Dental Clinic in Mortlake if you are unsure what was placed.
How should I chew and clean around a temporary crown?
Chew on the other side of your mouth while the temporary is in place, and avoid very sticky, hard or chewy foods on that tooth — such as toffee, hard lollies or crusty bread on that side. When flossing, slide the floss out sideways instead of snapping it up through the contact, which can lift the temporary. Keep brushing with fluoride toothpaste. See our how-to-floss guide for general technique, and call AMK Dental Clinic if anything feels different.
What should I do if my temporary crown comes off?
Phone the clinic the same day. Bring the temporary with you if you still have it. Do not stick it back with household glue, superglue or chewing gum, and do not force it on. Healthdirect lists a crown coming loose or falling off among possible problems that need review. Keep the appointment for your final crown, and call rather than waiting if the temporary comes off beforehand. Contact AMK Dental Clinic on (02) 9739 6525 or use the contact page.
Is looking after a temporary crown the same as caring for a finished crown?
No. This page is about the short gap after a tooth is prepared and before the final crown is fitted. Our caring-for-dental-crowns guide covers longer-term home care once the finished crown is in place — cleaning the gum join, daily interdental cleaning, and when to book a review. The two topics complement each other; they are not the same routine. For booking steps at AMK Dental Clinic in Mortlake, see how to book an appointment.
Do I still need to keep my final crown appointment if the temporary feels fine?
Yes. Keep the visit for the final crown even if the temporary feels comfortable. A temporary is short-term by design. Some crowns can be made and fitted on the same day; when treatment is planned over two visits, the temporary bridges the gap until the final crown is ready. If the temporary comes off, rocks or feels sharp before that visit, call rather than waiting. Book or change times through how to book an appointment or the contact page.