Never Take Your Healthy Teeth for Granted

Dental crowns are commonly used to fix teeth that have a lot of decay on them. Dentists also use crowns to fix teeth that require root canal procedures. If you have a problem with a tooth and will need a dental crown for it, your dentist is likely to perform the procedure in two visits. When you leave the first visit, you will most likely have a temporary tooth in place over the tooth that needs the crown, and here are a few things you should know about temporary teeth.

The Purpose of Temporary Teeth

A temporary tooth, or temporary tooth filling, is something dentists use after fixing a tooth and preparing it for a crown or something similar. The purpose of placing a temporary tooth in a person's mouth is to keep the tooth exactly the same while the person is waiting for the permanent artificial tooth. If a dentist did not place a temporary tooth in place, the tooth could likely change during the time period in which the person is waiting for the permanent tooth. If this happened, the permanent tooth might not fit over the tooth properly, and the entire process would not work out properly.

The Amount of Time a Temporary Tooth Lasts

Some people that need crowns will go through the process of getting the tooth fixed and getting a temporary tooth, but they will push off getting the actual crown installed on the tooth. People often do this for several reasons, including to avoid paying for the cost of a crown and to avoid going through more dental work.

In any case, you should never assume that a temporary tooth will last for very long. Temporary teeth are not designed to be permanent solutions, and that is why dentists consider them temporary teeth. They are only designed to last for a short amount of time, and you should realize this if you are getting one.

The Best Ways to Care for a Temporary Tooth

If you are getting a temporary tooth, there are several important steps you should follow so that you can protect it during this time period. The first thing you should do is avoid eating with the tooth. If possible, chew on the other side of your mouth during this time. Secondly, you must use caution when flossing by this tooth. Flossing is a great thing to do, but it can cause the temporary tooth to come loose.

If you need a crown, you should expect to get a temporary tooth at your first visit. If you have questions about crowns or temporary teeth, contact an office like Tupelo Tooth.