Lost Dental Crown? What to Do and Steps to Take

If you have a severely damaged tooth, you will likely receive a recommendation from general dentistry to protect the tooth by having it encased with a dental crown. Dental crowns function as tooth caps for a damaged tooth. Crowns are unlike veneers covering the front surfaces of the teeth because they encase the entire tooth.

Depending on what type of material your dental crown was made from, the restoration lasts for several years. However, crowns are vulnerable and might become loose or fall off unexpectedly. If your dental crown falls off, you must know how to handle the situation.

This article provides information on what you can do and the steps you must take if you confront a situation where your dental crown dislodges.

What Can You Do If You Crown Dislodges?

If your dental crown falls out of your mouth, you must retrieve the restoration to take it to the general dentistry clinic near you. The chances are high that the dentist can clean the restoration and fit it back in your mouth.

Unfortunately, if you cannot find the restoration, you must call the dentist in Phoenix for an appointment to seek replacements for the lost crown. When you make the call enquire with the dentist whether you need to follow special instructions until your appointment.

Is Losing a Crown an Emergency?

A dental crown falling off tooth bridges from the aesthetic zone of your mouth is undoubtedly an emergency requiring prompt attention from a dental professional. The lost crown impacts your smile by making visible gaps between your teeth.

If the lost crown was protecting a damaged or decayed tooth, you cannot consider it a nonemergency because the underlying receiving protection from the dental crown becomes exposed to bacteria and further damage. Therefore you must realize the dental crown procedure requires time for customizing your restoration and get to the dental office as soon as possible.

My Crown fell off. Can I eat?

You might become concerned about whether you can have food or not after losing a dental crown. However, while you can have soft foods making every effort not to chew with the affected tooth, you must refrain from having sticky, hard, or chewy foods until you have a replacement for the restoration you lost. You must also remain cautious when brushing your teeth, being gentle on the affected tooth.

How Do Dentists Replace Lost Crowns?

When you visit the dental offices near me in Phoenix to replace the dental crown, the professional evaluate the site of the crown and the crown itself. The integrity of the crown and the status of your mouth will determine whether the dentist reinstalls the existing restoration or creates a new one for you.

If your tooth hasn’t suffered too much damage dentist can reinstall the existing crown by performing some dental work. Unfortunately, if the tooth beneath has broken, you might need a new crown to ensure a perfect fit.

If you need a new crown and the tooth beneath has suffered damage, your dentist will prepare the tooth by filling it up or adding filling material to build it. You receive a temporary crown over the tooth until the dental laboratory prepares your new restoration.

Is It Possible to Prevent Dental Crowns from Dislodging?

If the dental crown in your mouth hasn’t received proper fitting or the bonding cement has weakened, the chances are high that you might lose the restoration. However, if you are proactive and care for your crown, you can reduce the events of the crown dislodging.

The American Academy of General Dentistry recommends steps you can follow to prevent dislodging of dental crowns. They are:

• You must avoid chewing on ice.
• When eating sticky or chewy foods, you must exercise caution or avoid them as best as possible.
• You must brush your teeth twice a day and floss them at least once.
• You can use an interdental toothbrush to remove plaque from the area where your gums meet the crown and the tooth.

If you clench and grind your teeth, your dentist might recommend wearing a mouthguard to protect your crown and natural teeth.

Losing dental crowns is not a recent phenomenon and will likely continue as long as dental crowns exist. However, if you lose one, you must contact the dentist immediately, seeking a replacement or reinstallation if you have the crown with you.

Open Wide Dental provides treatments for new and existing dental crowns. If you confront a situation where you lose an existing restoration, kindly contact this practice immediately to protect your teeth.