Temporary dental crowns, often referred to as provisionals for short, serve as a placeholder for patients while awaiting the completion of a permanent restoration. They support the patient’s ability to chew and smile normally without a gaping hole in their mouth.
But how long does a temporary crown last? Can a temporary crown last a month? Can a temporary crown last 2 months? Can a temporary crown last 6 months?
The answer, as with most questions related to dentistry, is not black and white. There are far too many moving pieces at play, like the material quality and practitioner skill level along with patient care.
In general, though, temporary crowns are designed to last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Six months is typically not realistic, and a timeline of this nature would necessitate adjustments by a dental practitioner.
Learn more about the longevity of provisional crowns below along with some of the signs yours is starting to reach the point where it’s time to get the permanent restoration in place.
If you’re a dental professional looking for longer-lasting solutions for your patients, you’ve come to the right place. My DDS Supply is proud to present the premier temporary crown material on the market. Elevate your sourcing standards today to provide better patient outcomes tomorrow!
What is a Temporary Crown?
First things first, what is the purpose of a temporary crown? We touched on it a bit above, but these are simply a way to protect a tooth while awaiting the final restoration.
They’re placed after the tooth has been reshaped as part of the process of getting a permanent crown, bridge, or other dental work completed. They prevent damage, contamination, or sensitivity in the meantime.
This also helps the patient continue to live their life uninterrupted, allowing them to chew, speak, and smile normally while protecting the tooth from further damage or infection.
From root canals to implant restorations, the use cases for a temporary crown vary greatly. However, they all tend to be made from materials like acrylic or composite resin.
But as the name suggests, these are not a long-term solution. In fact, they’re designed to be easily removed once the permanent restoration is ready for placement. That being said, how long does a temporary crown last?
How Long Does a Temporary Crown Last?
So can a temporary crown last a month? Can a temporary crown last 6 months? We briefly mentioned from the get-go that these tend to last a few weeks to a few months at most.
This makes them versatile, as you can adapt the provisional to meet your specific lead time for getting the permanent restoration back to your office and ready to place in the patient’s mouth.
While some patients may only need their temporary crown for a week, others might need to make do for a few months if there are delays in preparing the permanent crown. Every dental lab has its own turnaround times.
That being said, provisional crowns begin showing signs of wear and tear after a few weeks, particularly if they are exposed to heavy biting forces, poor oral care, or certain dietary habits.
Continuing to deal with the crown after seeing these issues can lead to long-term complications. We’ll talk more about this in a moment. Let’s take a step back and look at the factors influencing how long temporary crowns last.
Factors Influencing Temporary Crown Longevity
Just as with questions like how long does temporary dental cement last or how long does dental putty last, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to - how long does a temporary crown last? So, let’s unpack all the different factors influencing the longevity of these provisional solutions.
Material Quality and Strength
Now, what are temporary crowns made of? As we said earlier, materials can range from acrylic to composite resin. In some cases, practitioners will even use stainless steel. Each material has its own unique characteristics for durability, cost, and ease of use.
Acrylic and composite resin may be more cost-effective for short-term use but are also more prone to wear, cracking, and chipping than permanent crown materials. Even within these two types of materials, there are dramatic differences in quality from one manufacturer to the next.
You can contrast these with more permanent crown materials like porcelain, zirconia, or other high-strength materials. Provisional materials are much weaker, and thus, won’t stay in place for as long.
Practitioner Precision in Placement and Fit
Picking the perfect material is just half of the battle. Dental professionals also have to be able to make the most of it with precise placement and fit.
Crowns that fit well over the tooth and are secured properly with temporary cement, will experience less movement, discomfort, or early failure.
On the other hand, poorly fitted temporary crowns may cause irritation to the surrounding gums or loosen prematurely, causing not just discomfort but also a shorter lifespan. The skill of the dentist can make a noticeable difference in how long a crown stays functional and comfortable.
The Patient’s Oral Care
The patient plays an important role in how long does a temporary crown last as well. They can make matters worse or support their crown’s longevity based on the oral care they do (or don’t) put in.
Patients should be advised to brush and floss around the temporary crown carefully to avoid dislodging or damaging it. Gentle care should be emphasized, as the last thing you want is to cause more harm than good and accidentally pull the provisional loose.
But, doing nothing at all to care for your crown isn’t the answer either. Improper oral hygiene can irritate the gums while causing bacterial buildup, which loosens the temporary crown and even leads to decay around the tooth.
Dietary Implications
Beyond how the patient cares for their provisional, their diet impacts the longevity of their provisional too. This is true of many dental procedures, for that matter.
They should steer clear of hard, sticky, or chewy foods, which can dislodge or damage the crown. That includes caramel, gum, or hard nuts that put excessive pressure on the crown, causing it to crack or come loose.
Soft foods, on the other hand, are less likely to cause any issues. Patients also need to be aware of how extremely hot or cold foods interact with their provisional. Sensitivity tends to be a common complaint, and temperature extremes can make matters worse.
Indicators of a Problem in Temporary Crowns
The longer a provisional remains in place, the greater the chances of an issue arising. Your patients need to be able to spot problems early so they can come to you to have them rectified. Tell your patients to watch out for any of the following:
Chips, Cracks, and Looseness
Visible damage to the temporary crown in the form of chips, cracks, and loosening are the most obvious signs that something is amiss. At this point, the crown is no longer serving its purpose of protecting the tooth structure, anyway.
Even small chips or cracks can weaken the structure and lead to crown failure, allowing bacteria to reach the underlying tooth. Any signs of physical damage must be addressed quickly.
Sensitivity and Discomfort
While getting a crown put in place - temporary or permanent - isn’t necessarily an enjoyable or comfortable experience, it shouldn’t cause severe sensitivity or discomfort after the procedure is complete.
So if a patient reports persistent sensitivity or pain when biting down, it may indicate that the crown doesn’t fit properly or has shifted. Sensitivity when consuming hot or cold foods can also be a sign that the crown is not fully covering the tooth.
Swelling or Pain
Swelling of the gums around the temporary crown is another indicator of irritation or infection. So, tell patients to get in touch if they feel or see redness, swelling, or pain near the crown.
This could be due to improper placement, poor oral hygiene, or damage to the crown. This kind of inflammation can lead to more serious dental issues if left untreated, so patients need to act quickly in reporting these symptoms.
Crown Displacement
Patients will typically notice some of the symptoms above before it gets to this point - but left unchecked, complete dislodgment of the crown is an indicator that something went wrong in the process.
This may be the result of improper fit, or maybe it was because of using low-quality dental cement. It could also be the patient’s wrongdoing, whether they ate something they shouldn’t have or failed to properly care of the crown.
Whatever the case, this necessitates immediate action by the patient. The exposed tooth is at risk of damage, decay, and discomfort, so time is of the essence!
What Happens if Dental Professionals Leave a Temporary Crown on Too Long?
Maybe your patient is delaying the process of coming back in to have their provisional removed and their permanent crown placed. Is this really a problem, or can you let them rely on the temporary crown for the time being?
There are actually a few risks associated with leaving a temporary crown in place for too long. Here are some of the most concerning.
Increased Risk of Decay
Because the materials used to create temporary crowns are less durable than their permanent counterparts, they can degrade over time. This creates gaps between the crown and the tooth
As we’ve touched on throughout this guide the whole point of a provisional is to protect the tooth structure, but at a certain point, it stops doing its job. This leaves the tooth susceptible to decay as bacteria and food particles accumulate underneath.
Gum Irritation or Recession
A temporary crown that’s left in place too long can also begin irritating the surrounding gum tissue. This causes inflammation, swelling, and discomfort.
In more serious cases, it can actually cause the gums to start receding, exposing more of the tooth’s root and increasing sensitivity. When you finally do get around to placing the permanent restoration you’ll find it more difficult to get in place without ample gum tissue around the tooth.
Impaired Fitting for the Permanent Crown
Speaking of which, leaving a provision on the tooth structure for too long can actually cause the tooth structure itself to evolve. This means that when the permanent crown does arrive, it may not fit how it’s supposed to.
This could result in discomfort, an improper bite, or even the need for adjustments or a completely new permanent crown.
Long-Term Tooth Health Complications
The integrity of the tooth under the crown may be compromised over time from all the build-up of food and bacteria, which leads to long-term oral health complications. The tooth may be unable to support a crown at all, at which point the next option is more invasive: implants.
Fortunately, all these issues can be alleviated by following a proper schedule for placing provisionals and then replacing them with their permanent restoration.
You can also avoid these consequences and ensure favorable patient outcomes by sourcing quality materials at My DDS Supply.
Set Yourself Up For Temporary Crown Success at My DDS Supply!
We’re your one-stop shop for all the dental supplies your practice needs to run smoothly on a day-to-day basis, from temporary crown material to temporary dental cement, dental impression trays, dental gloves, alginate impression material, VPS impression material, and more.
Dentists trust us to deliver exceptional quality across our entire catalog. We back them up with the most intuitive online sourcing process possible so you can spend less time stressing about supplies and more time focusing on caring for your patients and growing the practice.
Our temporary crown materials are available in all the different shades you could encounter in your operation, including A1, A2, A3, B1, and bleach. They’re specifically designed to create the ultimate balance between strength and aesthetic appeal.
Plus, the consistent 10:1 mixing ratio means you’ll enjoy smooth handling and accurate results every time. The material is manufactured in Germany under the stricted standards so you can rest assured you’re setting yourself up for success.
Don't settle for less when it comes to your restorative needs. With fast-setting times and exceptional strength, My DDS Supply’s crown materials are the ideal solution to streamline your workflow and elevate patient care!
Wrapping Up Our Guide to Temporary Crown Life Expectancy
So, how long does a temporary crown last? This overview should leave you with no more questions related to the durability and longevity of provisional crowns.
In summary, it depends on the materials, placement precision, and patient care. In a best case scenario they can last a few months, but a few weeks is ideal. The goal is for these to provide protection for as short a timeframe as possible while awaiting the permanent restoration.
Learn more about how to make a temporary crown, how to mix alginate, how to soften dental putty, how to take alginate dental impressions, alginate impression errors, or how strong is dental cement in our blog.
Better yet, upgrade your dental sourcing standards at My DDS Supply today. Equip your practice with our reliable, easy-to-use temporary crown materials and keep your practice running smoothly!