Any dentists around

[SweetsAndChocolates]

I'm a little concerned (but hopefully have misunderstood this).

I have a tooth that has been prepared for crown- root canal done, tooth prepared (lots of drilling-feels very odd).

Crown won't be fitted until end of next week, tooth was prepared start of this week. Dentist said could have temporary crown but it didn't matter, so i assumed not having temp fitted was fine. However, after reading something I'm worried not having a temporary for the time being might be a bad idea?

I can't actually go back before the appointment I have, but I'm hoping for some reassurance. I think my main worry is because the tooth has been prepared there is a higher chance of damage/more issues with exposure to bacteria?

[Heatherjayne1972]

Why don’t you call / email the practice and ask - sounds like you need to put your mind at rest.
it probably will be ok. Keep it as clean as possible ( brushing and flossing etc) and probably better not to bite into hard or crunchy things

[SweetsAndChocolates]

Thank you, I'm hoping it's ok, I just have an irrational fear of dentists and worry things will go wrong 😂

[Angrymum22]

If it has been root filled the tooth will have been sealed so there is low risk of infection. With no temporary crown it will just feel a weird shape in your mouth.
Ynless you start to experience pain just keep it super cl an to stop food accumulating around it and it should be fine.

[Rebelmcstreettuff]

Absolutely no problem for it to be left until your appointment,it will be fine.
Your root canal is capped off so no bacteria can enter.

[maddy68]

It's fine ...the temp crown is just to look better so for example a front tooth. It doesn't serve a purpose. It's just a bit of plastic like a false nail.

[RobinHumphries]

The temporary crown does have a purpose - it stops the teeth moving if the crown isn’t to be fitted for a while but for a fortnight it won’t make a difference

[SweetsAndChocolates]

Thank you all,
I'm wondering, what happens if a tooth has shifted? Does that mean new impressions for a new crown?

[RobinHumphries]

Depends how much it has shifted - sometimes we can just adjust the crown to fit

[SweetsAndChocolates]

@RobinHumphries thank you. Due to unforeseen circumstances (and dentist holiday) it'll be 4 weeks before I will be seen now to have crown fitted (so worried that I might end up with a tooth that has shifted).

[RobinHumphries]

Is it a post crown you’re having fitted do you know?
Try not to worry too much, I had patients who had lost crowns during the first lockdown when we as a profession couldn’t work and they only needed minimal adjustment and they were out months. (For full disclosure I’ve also had the opposite)

[MrsEricBana]

I thought the purpose of the temporary was to keep the space ready for the new crown?

[CashewNut11]

I think it would be a good idea to contact your dentist and check.

I spent a loooong time in the chair getting fitted for a crown and dentist said if the temporary cap came off to get in touch soon as possible and I would be seen pronto.

The day before the proper crown fitting, the temporary cap broke AND I got Covid. Phoned practice to reschedule and get that 'soon as possible' appointment (post 5 day quarantine) and reception staff could only offer me an appt a month later even though I stressed dentist's urgency... 🙄

1 month later, and the dentist is surprised I didn't come sooner, and sure enough, the cap didn't fit, the tooth had changed. Had to go through fitting process again (AND the dentist tried to sneak in and charge me for the extra cost!) 😡

All sorted now, but really not impressed with the lack of communication between staff and dentist and then wanting me to pay an extra £100.00 for their mistake.

So, check, check, email, call and double check.

[tulips9]

Well I had a root canal last November and still haven't had the crown. The tooth took a long time to settle so understandably the dentist didn't want to put a £500 crown on top to then drill it out if there was a problem.
I'm going in a couple of weeks to see where we are with it.