Help! My Dental Crown Fell Off!
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It’s normal to be alarmed if you lose a dental crown. But in many cases, it’s not an emergency. Luckily, Dr. Habecker can replace your crown in just one appointment using CEREC technology.
If you’ve lost one of your dental crowns, the most important thing is to not panic.
Here’s what to do if you lose a dental crown.
Should I Visit the Emergency Dentist?
The only time you’d need to call our emergency dentist for a broken crown is if the jagged edges are sharp.
In this situation, you may need emergency dental care so you don’t cut your tongue or cheeks by accident. Otherwise, you’ll be able to wait a few days for your appointment.
Related:What is a Dental Emergency?
What Do I Do Until My Appointment?
Don’t panic. If your crown falls off, the first thing you’ll need to do is call our office.
We’ll be able to fit you in our schedule as soon as possible, which may be several days from now.
If your dental crown is intact:
- Buy dental cement from the drug store.
- Clean the inside of your dental crown.
- Apply the dental cement to your actual tooth and place your dental crown on top.
- Hold the dental crown in place until the cement dries.
- Use over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce any pain or discomfort.
If your dental crown is broken:
If your is broken, we still recommend keeping it to show our dentist. Dr. Habecker may be able to use your crown if it’s in good condition.
In the meantime, mold dental wax over your tooth so it’s protected. You’ll want to use the same dental wax that’s used to push errant wire braces back into place. Most drug stores sell dental wax.
Can I Still Eat Without a Crown?
Yes, but you need to protect your tooth first. (See the section above about what you should do if your crown falls off.)
Once you protect your tooth, you’ll be able to eat. Yet, you’ll need to stay away from foods that are hard to chew or sticky. That way, you won’t pull off your crown again by accident or damage your tooth.
It’s also best if you chew on the side opposite of your tooth crown.
What If I Accidentally Swallow My Crown?
Call a medical doctor immediately if you think you swallowed your crown by accident. There’s a chance you could have instead aspirated it and your dental crown is in your lungs.
A medical doctor will be able to take X-rays to see where your dental crown went. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
If you indeed swallowed your dental crown, it should pass in a few days. Crowns are small and smooth, which makes it easy for them to pass through the digestive tract.
What Can I Expect at My Dental Appointment?
If your crown is intact, our dentist may be able to place it back on your tooth. Otherwise, our dentist may need to make a new crown.
We can use to plan and place your dental crown in one appointment. A same-day dental crown is both convenient and long lasting.
To schedule an appointment with our Holland dentist, call Macatawa Smiles at (616) 396-7524.
This blog post has been updated.
