The hard plastic cap of your temporary crown is only meant to protect the abutment while the dental lab is preparing your permanent crown. The temporary crown does not effectively restore the full function of the tooth. If your temporary crown comes loose or is damaged the abutment could break off, which could require a root canal to restore the internal structure of the tooth.
You will need to maintain your oral hygiene regimen of brushing and flossing twice per day. Healthy gums will help insure that your permanent crown is cemented comfortably in place. You can use waxed floss to help slide in and around the temporary crown to free any plaque and food particles.
If possible you should try to avoid eating sticky foods or chewing gum on that side of your mouth, as it could potentially pull the temporary crown loose. Chewing hard foods, crunching ice or chewing on hard objects could also crack the biting surface of the temporary crown.
If for some reason, your temporary crown becomes loose, is cracked or falls out, you should call us as soon as possible at 520-762-0123 to set up an appointment to clean the area and cement the temporary crown back in place.