Let’s say you’re having a typical lunch or are just getting a drink and, for no obvious reason, there’s something strange in your mouth. It is small, hard, and definitely not on your sandwich. You realise your dental crown is missing. Panic sets in. What do you do now?
A missing dental crown can be terrifying if you don’t see it coming. Worst news? It’s not nearly as bad as it appears in the beginning, and you’ll avoid pain, misery, and unnecessary trouble if you know what to do next. No matter if you’re sleeping in, working the day shift, or driving down the road scanning cars coming toward you for car wraps, this article will take you step-by-step through what to do when your dental crown becomes loose and how to avoid having it happen at all.
First Things First: Don’t Swallow It
As much as it’s tempting to say, the first thing to do is remain calm. Remove the crown from your mouth immediately and gently rinse it off with water. If the crown is in one piece and not broken, that’s great, you can have it recemented by your dentist. Swallowing the crown can cause issues and lead to delays in treatment, so store it somewhere safe, like a small plastic bag or clean container.
Find the Cause
Understanding how your crown lost fit in the first place may be able to help you explain to the dentist as well as prevent such future instances from occurring.
Tooth rot beneath the crown: In a supported natural tooth in which the rotting occurs, the crown shape is able to degrade and loosen the crown.
Blunted cement: Denture cement that holds the crown in place can become worn out.
Chewing hard or sticky objects: Hard vegetables, nuts, and even taffy loosen a crown, especially if the crown was in poor condition to start with.
Bruxism (grinding teeth): Grinding teeth at night puts crowns and natural teeth under strain.
Can You Reattach It Yourself?
Only as a temporary solution, and only if you have no other option. If you cannot visit your dentist immediately, you can sometimes keep the crown in place for the time being using pharmacy dental cement for a few days or even one or two days. But this is not a substitute for an official visit.
Do not use home adhesives or super glue. They must not be put in the mouth and will poison you or injure your tooth and tissue once more.
If you are sensitive to cold and hot or have pain in the tooth below, a loose crown will cover it until you see your dentist.
What Not to Do Until You See Your Dentist
If your crown came off and you’re holding onto it until you’re able to get it treated, there are some things that you can do in an effort not to make the situation worse:
- Don’t consume sticky, crunchy, or chewy foods.
- Chew on the opposite side of your mouth
- Brush tough, but don’t brush extremely tough on the guilty tooth.
- Don’t attempt to put the crown back on by yourself if it won’t stay.
- Keeping the area treated and clean is the primary goal.
What Does the Dentist Do?
The dentist will examine the crown and the tooth below if you are in the dentist’s chair. If both the crown and the tooth are healthy, the crown can be cleaned and recemented on the same day.
If the tooth or crown is decayed, damaged, or worn, your dentist will require taking impressions for a new crown. A temporary crown may be required in the meantime until the new crown can be made.
In some other instances where tooth structure is lost to a significant degree, the replacement or restoration with other restorations like a core buildup or even a root canal may be necessary prior to the replacement or replacement with other crowns.
The Cost of Replacing or Repairing a Crown
Prices can vary depending on the extent of the issue and whether a new crown is needed. If your original crown was made from ceramic, porcelain-fused-to-metal, or gold, costs will differ based on the material and the complexity of the replacement. Having private health insurance can also influence how much you’ll need to pay out of pocket.
Remember, it’s normally less expensive just to tighten up a loose crown than to sit around and let it go so long that you have to ride down the street in the car to the dentist with an abscessed tooth in your hand.
Can You Prevent This From Happening in the Future?
Yes. While there is no guarantee, there are a few things you can do to keep your crown tightened and in place for as long as you can
- Visit your dentist from time to time. They can spot issues before they become emergencies.
- Wear a night-time mouth guard if you have a grinding problem.
- Don’t chew ice, hard lollies, and very sticky foods.
- Brush and floss your teeth as often as possible to keep your gums healthy and avoid decay under the crown.
Although crowns are constructed to last you forever, they are not invincible. A little more care will pay dividends down the line.
The Unforeseen Timing of Tooth Issues
Ironically, at the worst possible time, dental emergencies seem inevitable. You’re driving somewhere on some corporate jaunt, about to deliver a speech, or tooling around browsing designs on company van wraps. It’s just this kind of scenario that having an emergency plan as such a reasonable solution to save yourself from frantically scrambling to determine what to do in an emergency.
Have a number to reach your dentist quickly at hand, and consider packing a dental emergency kit if you have a long drive ahead or a multiplicity of restorative dental work.
Conclusion
Lost crowns take you by surprise, but they will never ruin your day or your grin. Know your steps for dos, don’ts, and call in the pros when to act.
Mia Dental is aware that tooth issues are on your agenda. We therefore offer immediate emergency consultations and empathy and skilled treatment to smile again. From crowns to veneers, to not bothering at all, our professionals stand by for quality and permanent treatment.
If your dental crown is loose, contact us today. We’ll fix it swiftly, comfortably, and with your long-term oral well-being in focus.
