How to Make a Dental Temporary Crown

You may consider making your own dental temporary crown for several reasons. Perhaps you have cracked or lost your permanent crown and would like to make a temporary one to replace it until you have the time or the money to get to the dentist. Maybe you have broken your tooth and would like to make a covering for it until you can purchase a permanent crown. Regardless of the reason, it is possible for you to make a dental temporary crown if you have the correct supplies and instructions.

Things You'll Need

• Baking soda
• Warm water
• Dental tray
• Impression material
• Putty material
• Metal fingernail file
• Dental acrylic
• Toothpick

Show More

Instructions

Make the Impression

• 1

  Rinse your mouth with a tablespoon of baking soda mixed with one cup of warm water.

• 2

  Take an impression of your tooth with a dental tray and impression material (available from your dentist or through a dental lab). Squeeze the impression material into the tray only on the side (right or left) where you need the temporary crown. If you see any air bubbles, smooth the material with your fingers to remove them.

• 3

  Insert the tray into your mouth and press straight down or up, depending on if the tooth is on the top or bottom. Do not press at an angle or slide the tray. It must go on completely straight to get an accurate impression.

• 4

  Hold the tray in place with your fingers for three full minutes.

• 5

  Remove the tray, and allow the impression material to set for 24 hours to harden.

• 6

  Remove the impression material by popping it out of the tray into your hands. Don’t let it fall on a table or counter, or it may break.

• 7

  Examine the impression. If it contains air bubbles or does not contain a clean, sharp impression of the tooth you want to crown, repeat the process.

Make the Temporary Crown

• 8

  Inject the putty material (available from your dentist or a dental supply lab) into the tooth area in the dental impression where you want to make the temporary crown. Mold the putty as you would clay, pressing it all around the tooth to form to the shape of the tooth, making sure it is not overly thick or overly thin.

• 9

  Let the putty sit on the tooth in the dental impression for 48 hours to harden. It will serve as your temporary crown.

• 10

  Remove the putty from the dental impression by popping it out into your hand, and place it on your tooth to see how it fits. File any excess putty on the outside edges with a metal fingernail file. The putty should fit the tooth perfectly. Take it out of your mouth, and file any excess putty on the outside edges with a metal fingernail file. You now have a temporary crown.

• 11

  Squeeze dental acrylic into the temporary crown, and place the crown on your tooth to seat it. Make sure it is straight on the tooth. Hold it in place for five minutes with your thumb and index finger.

• 12

  Remove any excess dental acrylic from around the tooth with a toothpick. Rinse your mouth with a tablespoon of baking soda and warm water. Avoid chewing on the temporary crown for 48 hours.