If you’ve ever had a severely injured or decayed tooth, there’s a good chance your dentist placed a dental crown to protect it from further harm. These tooth-shaped caps are made of durable porcelain that can be customized to resemble your natural pearly whites for seamless results.
Plus, these prosthetics can last 5 to 15+ years with the right care, though they’re not invincible. It’s possible to break or dislodge your dental crown if you’re not careful. Continue reading to learn 3 ways to help yourself if you lose your restoration!
Step #1: Find Your Missing Dental Crown
There’s a chance your dentist can reseat your dental crown if it’s still in good condition, so do your best to find it. If it broke into several pieces, it’s a good idea to gather up as many as you can to take with you to your dental appointment. Keep in mind that some pieces may still be in your mouth, so try to be careful not to swallow them.
Then, you can gently rinse off your restoration (or its pieces) and store them safely in a baggy or container until it’s time to leave.
Step #2: Safeguard Your Smile
Your mouth is full of bacteria that contribute to common oral issues like cavities and gum disease. Unfortunately, without a dental crown in place, they can penetrate the underlying tooth, causing additional breakage or infection. You can gently disinfect your mouth by rinsing with warm salt water to remove unwanted germs, blood, dirt, and other debris, depending on the situation.
Then, try to avoid chewing anything with your injured chomper. Also, steer clear of overly hot, cold, sticky, or hard foods that can trigger sensitivity until your tooth is treated.
Step #3: Contact Your Dentist
You might not think that losing a dental crown is urgent, but the underlying tooth is vulnerable to infection or additional injury without it. That means it’s essential to get help as soon as possible. If you haven’t already, now’s the perfect time to contact your dentist and let them know what happened. They’ll schedule an appointment at a suitable time, tailored to your specific circumstances.
Then, when you arrive, they’ll examine your tooth and suggest potential treatments. If your tooth and crown are both in good condition, they might be able to recement your prosthetic in place. Otherwise, they’ll discuss replacing it or considering a different treatment, such as an extraction, if your tooth is severely damaged.
Meet the Author
Dr. Anthony Giamberardino has 30+ years of experience helping patients build and maintain beautiful, healthy smiles. He earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and is a trusted member of several professional organizations, including the American Dental Association. He provides a comprehensive array of services at one convenient location to meet all your needs, including dental crowns. He combines a compassionate approach with meticulous attention to detail and advanced technology to design and place lifelike restorations that are intended to last. You can request an appointment on the website or call (781) 396-3800.