General Information
Badly decayed or broken teeth often must be repaired by using a cap or a crown.  Your dentist will recommend this procedure when filling the tooth to its proper shape becomes impossible.  Composite filling material has its limitations.  After a cavity has been prepared, you must have enough good sound tooth left to hold the composite material without the risk of fracturing.  A cap or crown is a replacement of the part of the tooth which is above the gum line.  Crowns fit over the tooth.  Crowns protect the teeth and restore their biting function.

Activities of Daily Living
There are no restrictions on your usual activities.  However, sticky sweets such as sugar daddy’s and taffy may be strong enough to pull the crown off so avoidance of these is important.

General Measures: 

• Do not bite on your new crown for an hour after it has been replaced, so that the cement can harden to its full strength.
• Brush and floss the crown as you do your natural teeth.

Medications
None should be needed.

NOTIFY YOUR DENTIST IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING OCCURS:

• The crown becomes loose or moves when you bite.
• The tooth is sensitive to pressure three days after it is cemented
• Gums become swollen around the new cap.
• Note:  Sensitivity to foods and liquids is a normal reaction to a new cap and may last for several weeks.