A dental crown is a custom-made cap placed over a damaged or weakened tooth, restoring its shape, size, strength, and appearance. This procedure typically involves two separate appointments: the first to prepare the tooth and place a temporary covering, and the second to permanently cement the final crown. Understanding how to manage your diet before and after this initial preparation visit is important for patient safety and the success of the restoration. This guide provides practical instructions regarding eating habits surrounding your dental crown procedure.
Preparing for the Appointment: Eating Guidelines
When preparing for a crown appointment, eating instructions depend entirely on the type of pain management planned. If the dentist is using only a local anesthetic, such as lidocaine, you should eat a small, balanced meal about one to two hours before the scheduled time. This precaution is advised because dental procedures can often be lengthy, sometimes lasting an hour or more.
A small meal prevents low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which can cause lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting while you are in the dental chair. Consuming complex carbohydrates and some protein ensures a steady energy supply. Foods like oatmeal, yogurt with fruit, or a turkey sandwich are good choices to maintain stable blood glucose levels.
However, if your treatment plan involves any form of conscious sedation, such as nitrous oxide, oral sedatives, or intravenous (IV) sedation, the dietary rules become stricter. Sedation affects the body’s reflexes, increasing the risk of complications if food is present in the stomach.
For procedures involving IV sedation, dentists usually require fasting for six to eight hours prior to the appointment. This means consuming no food or liquids other than small sips of water for necessary medications. This strict fasting prevents pulmonary aspiration, a dangerous condition where stomach contents are inhaled into the lungs, should nausea occur during or after sedation.
Even for lighter methods like nitrous oxide, avoid heavy meals in the hours leading up to the appointment. An empty or nearly empty stomach reduces the likelihood of experiencing nausea or vomiting during the procedure. Always confirm the specific fasting instructions with your dental office, as they are tailored to the type of sedation being administered.
You should continue to drink water up until the fasting period begins, unless otherwise instructed. Good hydration promotes healthy circulation and can make the process of administering local anesthetic more comfortable.
Managing Your Diet with a Temporary Crown
The temporary crown protects the prepared tooth while the permanent restoration is being fabricated in the dental laboratory, a period that often lasts one to three weeks. Since the temporary is held in place with a weaker, non-permanent dental cement, specific dietary modifications are necessary to keep it secure.
You must avoid any foods that are excessively sticky, chewy, or hard, as these textures pose the greatest threat to dislodging the temporary restoration. Sticky items like caramel, taffy, chewing gum, and fruit snacks can easily adhere to the crown and pull it off. Hard foods such as nuts, ice, hard candies, and crusty bread can exert enough focused pressure to crack the temporary crown or break the seal of the cement.
When eating, chew primarily on the side of the mouth opposite to where the temporary crown is located. This practice minimizes the direct force exerted on the temporary restoration. Cutting food into smaller, manageable pieces before eating also helps reduce the overall strain placed on the newly prepared area.
The prepared tooth underneath the temporary crown may experience heightened sensitivity to temperature changes because the protective dentin layer has been reduced. Avoid consuming extremely hot liquids like scalding coffee or icy beverages and foods. Lukewarm or room-temperature items are generally much more comfortable while the temporary is in place.
If the temporary crown does become loose or falls off completely, contact the dental office immediately to schedule an emergency recementation. The temporary crown acts as a placeholder, preventing the adjacent and opposing teeth from shifting into the open space. Even a few days without the temporary can cause enough tooth movement to prevent the final permanent crown from fitting correctly.
The Reasons Behind Pre-Crown Dietary Advice
The instructions regarding eating habits before and after the crown procedure are rooted in patient safety and the protection of the dental work. Eating a light meal prior to a procedure involving only local anesthetic is a proactive measure against low blood sugar, which can be triggered during prolonged periods of immobility. Maintaining stable blood sugar helps prevent sudden drops in blood pressure that can lead to fainting.
The absolute fasting requirement before sedation is a safety protocol designed to prevent pulmonary aspiration. Sedative drugs relax the body’s protective reflexes, including the gag reflex, meaning that stomach contents could be inhaled into the lungs if the patient regurgitates. This is a standard medical precaution across all procedures involving deep sedation.
Protecting the temporary crown is important because the underlying prepared tooth is highly vulnerable. The temporary seal prevents bacteria and food debris from accessing the exposed dentin, which could lead to infection or further decay. Maintaining the integrity of the temporary also ensures the final restoration can be successfully cemented at the second appointment. If the temporary crown is damaged or dislodged, the surrounding teeth may drift, necessitating adjustments or a complete remake of the custom-made final crown.