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How to Make a Temporary Crown: Your Guide to the Temporary Crown Procedure

How to Make a Temporary Crown

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Even though it’s just a short-term solution, the temporary crown procedure cannot be taken lightly given its influence on patient comfort in the interim along with its impact on the permanent crown solution down the road.

That’s why we’ve created this guide on how to make a temporary crown, walking you through the ins and outs of making a temporary crown so you can feel confident handling these procedures.

We’ll cover everything from material selection to tooth preparation, shaping, cutting, polishing, and more. But to set yourself up for success as you get started, source the temporary crown material you need here at My DDS Supply.

Our German-made material is crafted with care to ensure unparalleled workability and strength, empowering you to create effortless temporaries that match your patient’s shade. Shop now and experience the difference firsthand!

Why Making a Temporary Crown is an Important Task in Restorative Dentistry

Temporary crowns protect the natural tooth structure after procedures such as root canals or while waiting for permanent crowns to be manufactured. This prevents any further decay or damage to the tooth’s delicate exposed areas.

They also play an important role in maintaining the aesthetics and functionality of a patient's smile, ensuring that they can continue their daily lives without feeling self-conscious or experiencing discomfort.

There’s a more functional aspect to provisionals, though. They preserve the correct spacing between teeth while awaiting the permanent crown’s arrival. Otherwise, the adjacent teeth could begin shifting into the space meant for the permanent crown, leading to misalignment and potential bite issues.

Temporaries also facilitate the gum healing process and prepare the site for the final restoration. They allow the dentist to evaluate the patient’s bite and make necessary adjustments to ensure the best fit and comfort for the permanent crown.

All things considered, learning how to make a temporary crown is essential for both interim comfort and the long-term success of the final restorative work. So, let’s get into choosing the right material for the job.

Choosing the Right Temporary Crown Material

Given the importance of the temporary crown procedure, you cannot overlook the material you use. There are a few different types you have at your disposal. We’ll break down the most common choices and help you pick according to the procedure at hand.

Factors to Consider When Selecting Material

Here are the most important things to consider as you source your provisional material:

  • Biocompatibility: The material should be non-irritating and non-allergenic to ensure patient safety and comfort.
  • Strength and Durability: Essential for withstanding everyday oral functions such as chewing and biting without fracturing. This prevents your patient from having to come back in for touch-ups while they await their permanent crown.
  • Aesthetics: The material should closely mimic the natural color and translucency of tooth enamel to maintain the patient's smile aesthetics. You will likely need a variety of shades on hand so you’re prepared for any patient.
  • Ease of Use: Materials that are simple to manipulate and set reduce chair time and streamline the procedure, making the process less stressful for you as a dentist.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Never compromise on quality for cost, but you should still think about your budget and maintain profitability.
  • Setting Time: The quicker a material sets, the less time the patient spends in the chair, enhancing their experience and allowing you to get more done during the day.
  • Adaptability: The ease with which the material can be trimmed, polished, and adjusted affects the final fit and comfort for the patient. 

Comparison of Popular Materials (Composite, Acrylic, Bis-acryl)

We recently wrote a guide covering what temporary crowns are made from if you want the full scoop - but here are the three most common choices:

  • Composite Resins: Known for their strength and excellent color matching. These are a preferred choice for aesthetically demanding cases, but they require careful handling and a longer setting time.
  • Acrylic Resins: Easier to use and set faster, making them ideal for quick procedures. Their affordability also makes them suitable for cost-conscious practices, though they may lack the durability and fine aesthetic finish of other materials. Just consider how long the temporary needs to last if you’re going to use this material.
  • Bis-acryl Composite: Combines the best of both acrylic and composite resins. That means you get superior aesthetics and strength compared to traditional acrylics and easier workability than pure composites. Bis-acryl also exhibits less shrinkage and better color stability, making it an excellent choice for long-term provisional restorations.

Making High-Quality Temporary Crowns is Quicker and Easier With Our Materials at My DDS Supply!

You can enjoy peace of mind knowing you’re getting the highest-quality temporary crown material when you source from My DDS Supply, the #1 choice in the industry. 

Gain access to a variety of shades from A1 to A2, A3, B1, and even bleach. Across all this variety here are some of the facts and features that keep our customers coming back for more:

  • Precision Mixing: 10:1 ratio ensures consistent results.
  • Strength and Durability: Withstands daily demands, ensuring reliable retention.
  • Easy Handling: Materials are easy to manipulate for accurate application.
  • Aesthetic Finish: Provides a smooth, natural appearance.
  • German Craftsmanship: Meticulously crafted for superior quality.
  • Trusted by Professionals: Renowned for reliability across dental practices.
  • Versatile Applications: Ideal for various temporary dental procedures.
  • Comfortable Fit: Mimics natural teeth, enhancing patient confidence.

You’ll also enjoy the efficient setting time of just 4 minutes. The working time is just 40 seconds with 1:30-2 minutes time in the mouth. Your patients will love this rapid process as well as they can get in and out faster!

We have the other supplies you need for all your restorative dentistry procedures too. That includes dental mixing tips, micro applicators, dental impression trays, temporary tooth cement

cavity liner, and much, much more. 

Plus, sourcing from My DDS Supply means you get the best prices available alongside world-class customer service. What more could you ask for? Stock up today as we walk you through how to make a temporary crown below.

How to Make a Temporary Crown: Step-by-Step Guide to the Temporary Crown Procedure

Keep in mind that the temporary dental crown procedure should be left to dental professionals who have invested years into their education. If you do not feel confident in your ability to perform the procedure, do not “learn on the job”.  With that being said, here’s an overview of how to make a temporary crown.

Preparation of the Tooth

The first step involves thoroughly cleaning the tooth that will receive the crown. Any decay is removed, and the tooth is shaped to ensure a proper fit for the crown. This might involve trimming the tooth to create a stable base for the crown.

From there, you’ll take an accurate impression of the tooth and surrounding teeth for the permanent crown. This is done using dental putty, which we have available here at My DDS Supply. 

We do not recommend learning how to make dental putty at home - professional-grade materials are non-negotiable. Stock up on our vinyl polysiloxane impression material, bite registration material, or alginate impression material.

Take your time to carefully form an impression of the tooth to ship off to a prosthodontist. Miscalculations here will create headaches when the permanent crown returns and doesn’t fit how you need it to.

Molding the Temporary Crown

The selected material is placed into a crown mold or directly onto the tooth impression. It is then shaped to match the contours of the model or the opposite tooth to ensure it fits perfectly within the patient’s bite.

Shaping and Fitting

Once the material has set initially, the temporary crown is removed from the mold or impression and tested on the actual tooth. Adjustments are made to ensure a comfortable fit that does not affect the patient's bite or cause discomfort.

Dental tools are used to finely adjust the crown’s shape so that it does not interfere with the surrounding teeth and aligns well with the bite. This must be done meticulously to prevent issues like tooth mobility or increased sensitivity.

Polishing and Final Adjustments

If you’re happy with how the temporary fits, it’s time to polish and give it a smooth finish. This not only improves the appearance of the temporary crown but also reduces the risk of irritation to the tongue and soft tissues of the mouth.

The temporary crown is then cemented onto the tooth with temporary dental cement. This cement is designed to hold the crown in place securely while being easy to remove when the permanent crown is ready for placement.

A final check is performed to ensure that the crown has a proper fit, the bite is correct, and the patient feels comfortable. Adjustments are made if necessary to ensure optimal functionality and comfort. While you want to stay on schedule, trust us - it’s worth due diligence here to prevent poor outcomes or headaches down the road.

Post-Procedure Care Instructions

With the actual work of making a temporary crown now complete, you should give your patient care instructions. This includes avoiding sticky or hard foods and being careful while brushing. Your patient should contact you if they experience any discomfort or feel any loosening of the temporary.

How Long Does it Take to Make a Temporary Crown?

All in, how long does it take to make a temporary crown? As with most things in dentistry and life in general, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. 

The condition of the tooth being treated influences the timeline. If extensive preparation is needed due to decay or damage, it’ll take longer to shape and clean before a crown can be made.

Different materials used for temporary crowns, such as acrylic or composite resins, have varied setting times as well. Materials that set quickly can speed up the process, while others might require longer curing periods.

The technique used also plays a role. Direct methods, where the crown is molded directly in the patient’s mouth, can be quicker than indirect methods that involve crafting the crown in a dental lab and then fitting it in a subsequent appointment.

All that being said, a temporary crown made using the direct method can typically be completed in about 20 to 40 minutes during a single dental visit. 

Parting Thoughts on How to Make a Temporary Crown

That concludes our detailed guide on making a temporary crown. This is an essential part of restorative dentistry, ensuring patients receive both immediate relief and a bridge to permanent solutions. 

Remember, the quality of your temporary crown can significantly affect the overall treatment experience and outcome! Don’t overlook this task just because it’s an interim solution.

Our blog has more tips on how to soften dental putty, how to sterilize dental burs, how long dental cement lasts, best gauze for tooth extraction, types of suction in dentistry, types of dental burs, sterilization pouches sizes, and more.

At this point, though, it’s time to take what you’ve learned in this guide on how to make a temporary crown and get to work! Armed with these insights and our top-tier material, you can perform the temporary crown procedure with confidence.

So, elevate your practice's standards by choosing our trusted supplies for your next dental procedure. Stock up on all the essentials today at My DDS Supply, where quality solutions, affordability, and customer service intersect for the ultimate dental sourcing experience.