Depending on what type of procedure a patient has had, such as prep for a dental crown, you may need to make a temporary. This is worn while the permanent tooth replacement is crafted in a dental lab. This can take up to two weeks or more, so the temporary needs to look natural and feel comfortable. Here’s what you’ll learn about making a temporary during dental assistant training in Columbus.
First Impressions Count
Like a permanent crown, the temporary is based on an impression. Most dentists use a paste or putty-like material. The prepared tooth is washed and dried. Then, a retraction cord is placed between the tooth and surrounding gum tissue, so that the impression can copy the entire tooth.
A small amount of runny impression material is squirted around the tooth. Then, a tray filled with the impression material is placed over the prepped tooth as well as adjacent teeth. The two materials blend together as the impression sets. When the tray is removed, the impression shows a copy of the prepared tooth.
An impression of opposing teeth—the teeth that the temporary crown will chew against—will also be needed. The dentist will also take a bite impression to record how teeth come together when the patient bites down.
Placing a Temporary Crown
When the permanent crown is fabricated in a dental lab (instead of by a crown in a day system in the dentist’s office) about two weeks will be needed for production. The patient will wear the temporary during this time.
A temporary protects the tooth and prevents it from moving. Most are made out of plastic, but some are metal. Temporaries are based on the impression taken and are placed using temporary cement so they can be removed easily when the permanent crown is ready.
Once the temporary is in place, you’ll need to instruct the patient on the following precautions:
- Shift the bulk of chewing to the other side of your mouth
- Avoid sticky foods such as caramel and chewing gum, which can dislodge the temporary
- Don’t bite down on hard foods like raw vegetables that could break the temporary
- Floss carefully, and remove floss by simply pulling it out alongside the tooth rather than moving it up and down, which could pull off the temporary
If you would like more information about a rewarding career as a dental assistant, or if you are ready to begin a session of 10 Saturday classes, contact our office today.
About Dental Assistant Pro
Would you like to enter the rewarding field of dental assisting? Dental Assistant Pro offers a program of 10 Saturday classes that includes lectures and hands-on training. We operate in a state-of-the-art training facility. Contact us in Lebanon or Westerville for more information.
