When you get a dental crown, the process typically takes two visits with a 1 to 2 week gap in between. During that gap, you will wear a temporary crown. While it is a short-lived restoration, knowing how to care for it properly ensures a smooth experience until your permanent crown is ready.
What Is a Temporary Crown?
A temporary crown is a provisional cap made from acrylic or composite resin. It is placed on your prepared tooth immediately after shaping to:
- Protect the exposed tooth from sensitivity, bacteria, and damage
- Maintain the space so adjacent and opposing teeth don't shift
- Restore basic function so you can eat and speak normally
- Maintain your appearance — you will not walk around with a gap or a shaved tooth
How Long Do You Wear a Temporary Crown?
Typically 1 to 2 weeks, while your permanent crown is being fabricated at the dental lab. In some cases, it may be slightly longer if the lab requires extra time for custom colour matching or complex cases.
What Can You Eat with a Temporary Crown?
Temporary crowns are cemented with a weaker adhesive (so they can be easily removed later), so some caution with food is needed:
Safe to Eat:
- Soft foods: rice, pasta, soft bread, scrambled eggs, fish
- Soups and porridge
- Cooked vegetables
- Soft fruits like bananas
Avoid:
- Sticky foods — chewing gum, toffee, caramel, sticky candy. These can pull the temporary crown off.
- Hard foods — nuts, hard candy, ice, crusty bread. These can crack or dislodge it.
- Very hot or cold foods if you are experiencing sensitivity
Tip: Try to chew on the opposite side of your mouth when possible. This reduces the risk of dislodging the temporary crown.
How to Care for Your Temporary Crown
- Brush gently around the temporary crown. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush.
- Floss carefully — slide the floss out sideways rather than pulling it up through the contact point, as snapping it upward can pull the crown off.
- Avoid chewing gum entirely while wearing a temporary crown.
- Don't wiggle or play with it with your tongue or fingers.
What If Your Temporary Crown Falls Off?
This happens occasionally and is not an emergency, but you should act promptly:
- Keep the temporary crown — do not throw it away
- Call your dental clinic to schedule a re-cementation appointment (usually quick and easy)
- In the meantime: You can try placing the crown back on the tooth gently as a temporary measure. Some pharmacies sell temporary dental cement, but this is optional.
- Avoid eating on that side until the crown is re-cemented
- Avoid hot and cold foods on the exposed tooth, as it may be sensitive
The temporary crown can usually be re-cemented in a quick 10-minute appointment.
Is It Normal to Feel Sensitivity with a Temporary Crown?
Some sensitivity to hot and cold is normal, especially in the first few days after the tooth has been prepared. This happens because:
- The tooth has been shaped, removing some enamel
- Temporary crowns do not seal as precisely as permanent crowns
- The temporary cement allows slight micro-movement
This sensitivity typically resolves once the permanent crown is fitted. If you experience severe, throbbing pain rather than mild sensitivity, contact your dentist as this may indicate the tooth needs further treatment.
How Is the Permanent Crown Different?
- Material: Made from high-quality porcelain, zirconia, or metal — far stronger and more durable than the acrylic temporary
- Fit: Custom-made from your precise 3D scan to fit perfectly, with tight contacts and a smooth bite
- Cementation: Bonded with a strong, permanent adhesive
- Appearance: Colour-matched to your natural teeth and polished to a lifelike finish
- Longevity: Designed to last 10 to 15+ years, compared to 1 to 2 weeks for a temporary
Once your permanent crown is fitted, you can eat, drink, brush, and floss normally. It should look, feel, and function just like a natural tooth.
What Does the Permanent Crown Cost?
At Trust Dental Surgery, the temporary crown is included in the overall crown treatment, so there is no separate charge for it. Crowns are priced from $950 for a metal crown up to $1,300 for a zirconia crown (before GST), and that fee covers the whole process — tooth preparation, the 3D scan, your temporary crown, and fitting the final crown. You can see the full breakdown by material in our dental crown cost guide, or read our complete guide to dental crowns for help choosing the right material.
