Dental crowns are made to keep your damaged or compromised teeth from becoming harmed any further. While this restoration is very strong, it isn’t completely resistant to damage. It isn’t unheard of for dental crowns to fall out for a variety of different reasons. While this isn’t the most urgent dental emergency that you could encounter, it is still important that you see a dentist right away to address this issue. Continue reading to learn what you should do if you lose a dental crown.
Call Your Dentist
As soon as your crown falls out, you should look around for it. If it’s still in your mouth, take it out. You need to carefully clean the area where the crown was. Be especially gentle because the area could be more sensitive than usual. Give your dentist a call as soon as you can and schedule an urgent appointment. If you are in any pain, this is definitely something that you should bring up.
Examine the Area
You should look on the inside of your crown and remove any debris or old cement if you are able. Check that none of your natural tooth has broken off in is still lodged inside the crown. Run your tongue over your underlying tooth carefully to check for sharp edges. You don’t want to accidentally hurt the soft tissues in your mouth. If your crown is hollow, you can try to place it back on the tooth for the time being. Check with your dentist to see whether or not an adhesive should be used until you can get to the office.
Be Careful
Until you can go to the dental office, you need to avoid both chewy and sticky foods that could cause additional damage. Chew on the opposite side of your mouth and only eat soft foods until the issue has been resolved by your dentist.
Go to the Dental Office
When the time comes for your appointment, your dentist will take a look and see whether or not your crown can be replaced or if you need to have a new one made. Either way, they will clean the area and cement the crown or temporary crown to your tooth.
Dislodging a crown isn’t uncommon, but it is still urgent. By following these steps, your smile will be restored in no time!
About the Author
Dr. Shawn Zahner earned his dental doctorate from the University of Connecticut Dental School and is committed to continuing education in order to keep his knowledge and skills sharp. Currently, he is a proud member of the American Dental Association, Connecticut State Dental Association, and Tolland County Dental Society. If you have a dislodged dental crown, he would be happy to help. For more information or to schedule an appointment at his office in Ellington, visit his website or call (860) 870-9031.