Having a broken tooth can cause eating and speaking difficulties. Also, It can be embarrassing to smile when you have a broken front tooth. The problem is that you need to wait for one or two weeks to get a permanent cap. A temporary cap is a quick way to cover a broken tooth while you wait for your permanent cap to finish. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the benefits, uses, and how to care for a temporary cap.
What is Temporary Cap & Its Uses?
A temporary cap is a tooth-shaped cover that is used for a few weeks until you get a permanent cap. It restores the function and appearance of your broken tooth and protects it from damage. Temporary caps can be made at the dental office or lap from materials like acrylic-based materials or composite.
Dental treatments for a broken tooth may take time, even with an emergency appointment. On average, it requires a week or two to get a dental crown on your broken tooth. Meanwhile, you may need to eat, speak, and smile without any problems. So, a temporary cap for a broken tooth may be a good solution for you until the dental treatment is over.
Benefits of Temporary Cap for a Broken Tooth
When dentists prepare a tooth to receive a cap, they decrease its size. Sometimes, the neighboring teeth may tilt, and the opposite tooth may over-erupt while waiting for the permanent cap.
Therefore, the permanent cap won’t fit over the prepared tooth. A temporary cap can prevent the movement of teeth surrounding the damaged tooth. Here are some of the benefits you may get from a temporary cap for a broken tooth.
- Protect your broken tooth from further damage.
- Prevent pain or sensitivity. If the prepared tooth is vital, it may cause sensitivity or pain with hot and cold food or drinks.
- Restore the chewing function, which gives you the ability to eat normally.
- Restore the appearance of your tooth, which is important for confidence and your smile.
- Hold the prepared tooth in its place and prevents its movement.
- Prevent the tilting of neighboring teeth.
- Prevent the over-eruption of the opposing tooth.
What’s the Procedure for Temporary Cap?
When you go to the dentist for a broken tooth, they will examine your teeth and take X-rays. Then, they will prepare the tooth and take impressions of your teeth. Your dentist makes the temporary cap in the office or sends it to a dental lab. At the dental office, the process will take only a few minutes.
Your dentist will cement the temporary cap with temporary cement. After a week or two, they will take the temporary cap off and place the permanent one. Learn more about permanent teeth covers for a broken tooth.
Can I Use The Temporary Cap as Permanent Coverage for a Broken Tooth?
Temporary caps are not designed for long-term usage. The temporary cap may break or discolor over time. Also, the temporary cap does not fit perfectly on the prepared tooth like the permanent one, which may cause inflamed gums and further damage to the broken tooth when it is used for a long time. Learn more about what to do if your temporary crown is chipped.
How Long Do Temporary Caps Last?
It is difficult to predict the lifespan of a temporary cap. Also, it depends on many factors such as your oral hygiene habits, the type of material used for the cover, the thickness of it, and the force on the cap. The temporary cap is usually used for 4 – 6 weeks to protect the prepared or damaged tooth.
How to Care for Your Temporary Cap & Broken Tooth?
Taking care of your temporary cap makes it last longer and prevent further damage to the broken tooth. Here are some care tips for a temporary cap:
- Maintain good oral hygiene: brush your teeth twice a day, floss once a day, and rinse with mouthwash.
- Avoid biting sticky, chewy, crunchy, tough, or hard foods: hard food such as popcorn, nuts, raw baby carrots, hard candy, etc., should be avoided until you get a permanent cover. Biting these foods can crack the temporary cap. Learn more about what to do if your temporary crown broke off.
- Take care with hot or cold foods or drinks: the crowned tooth may cause sensitivity.
- Avoid chewing on the broken tooth: chew on the opposite side of your mouth.
- Don’t postpone your next dental appointment: temporary caps are not designed for long-term usage.
Temporary Cap for a Broken Tooth – Conclusion
A temporary cap is a quick way to protect your broken tooth from further damage while you wait for a permanent cap. It also helps prevent pain or sensitivity and restore chewing function. Temporary caps are not designed for long-term usage. They may break if you bite sticky, chewy, crunchy, tough, hard foods. So, you should take care of your temporary crown until you get the permanent one.
