A dental crown is essentially a cap that your dentist places over a damaged or weakened tooth to restore its original shape, size, strength, and appearance. This restoration covers the entire visible portion of the tooth above the gum line. The crown procedure is a highly effective way to protect a tooth that has suffered from extensive decay, a fracture, or has undergone a root canal.
Guidelines for Chewing with a Temporary Crown
The initial stage of the crown process involves wearing a temporary crown, which is typically made of an acrylic material and held in place with a weaker, temporary cement. This temporary restoration is designed to protect the underlying prepared tooth while the permanent crown is being custom-made in a dental laboratory, a period that usually lasts about one to three weeks. Because the temporary crown is significantly less durable than the final restoration, specific precautions must be taken.
It is highly recommended that you chew food primarily on the opposite side of your mouth from the temporary crown to minimize the force applied directly to it. You should strictly avoid hard, crunchy, or chewy foods that could damage the restoration, such as nuts, ice, hard candies, and very tough meats. Sticky foods, including caramels, taffy, chewing gum, and gummy bears, must also be avoided because they can adhere to the crown and pull it completely off the tooth.
When performing oral hygiene, you need to be gentle around the temporary crown, especially when flossing. Instead of lifting the floss up and out from between the teeth, you should carefully slide the floss out sideways. If the temporary crown does happen to become loose or fall off completely, contact your dentist immediately to have it re-cemented, as the underlying tooth needs protection from bacteria and movement.
Chewing After Permanent Crown Placement
Once your permanent crown is ready, it will be cemented onto the prepared tooth using a much stronger dental adhesive. The most immediate concern following this appointment is allowing the cement to achieve its optimal strength and ensuring your bite feels correct. Most dental cements achieve their initial set within minutes, but they continue to cure and gain full strength over the next 24 to 48 hours.
For the first few hours after the procedure, you should avoid eating entirely, especially if local anesthesia was used, to prevent accidentally biting your cheek or tongue. Over the next 24 hours, it is advisable to stick to soft foods and avoid chewing directly on the new crown to allow the cement to fully mature. You should also gently test your bite with soft items, paying close attention to any sensation that the crown feels “high” or uneven when you close your mouth. If the crown feels like it is making contact before your other teeth, call your dental office promptly for an adjustment, as an uneven bite can cause discomfort and potentially damage the crown or the opposing tooth.
Long-Term Dietary Considerations
After the initial setting period, a permanent crown can generally be treated like a natural tooth, but it is not completely indestructible and requires mindful usage for long-term maintenance. The materials used for crowns, such as porcelain or ceramic, are strong but can still be chipped or cracked under excessive or sudden force. Habits that involve placing extreme pressure on the teeth should be avoided.
You should consciously avoid chewing on non-food items, as these can create stress fractures in the crown material. Minimizing the consumption of extremely hard foods will help preserve the crown’s surface and the seal between the crown and the tooth. It is also wise to refrain from using the crowned tooth to tear open packages or to pull apart tough items, like sinewy meat, as this shearing force can loosen the crown or cause it to crack.
Habits to Avoid
- Chewing on non-food items (e.g., ice cubes, pen caps, or fingernails).
- Consuming extremely hard foods (e.g., popcorn kernels, hard candies, or very tough crusts).
- Using the crowned tooth to tear open packages or pull apart tough items like sinewy meat.
When Chewing Indicates a Problem
While a properly placed crown should allow for comfortable, normal chewing, certain sensations felt during or after eating can indicate a developing issue. Experiencing a sharp, immediate pain when biting down may suggest a crack in the crown, a problem with the underlying tooth structure, or that the crown is slightly loose. Persistent sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures, especially if it lingers after the stimulus is removed, can signal that the tooth’s nerve is irritated or that decay is developing beneath the margin.
A crown that feels loose or wobbly when you chew, or one that has fallen off completely, requires immediate attention from your dentist. If a crown falls off, you should keep it in a safe place and avoid chewing on the exposed tooth until you can be seen by your dental professional. Any pain or discomfort that makes you hesitant to use the crowned tooth for chewing is a sign that the crown’s fit, the underlying tooth, or the surrounding gum tissue needs professional evaluation.