If you've had a crown fall off unexpectedly, you're probably familiar with the feeling of shock, confusion and horror as you gaze down at part of your tooth in your hand! While your first instinct may be to try and re-cement the lost restoration, this can come with some serious consequences. The best bet is to let your dentist evaluate and repair your tooth with the proper materials and techniques.
Temporary dental cements are available at almost every drug store and pharmacy. While these products may seem like a good idea, they can lead to a number of problems. If you don't use enough cement (or don't apply it properly), you run the risk of dislodging the crown again and potentially chipping a tooth or swallowing it. If you put on too much cement, the crown can seat too high and cause a sore jaw or excess material can ooze below the tooth and irritate your gums. Either way, it's best to have a dentist examine and recement the crown in-office. Crown usually fall off for a reason, and it is important to discern that the tooth and restoration are healthy enough to be reattached before creating a new set of problems. Additionally, never try to recement a crown with super glue, epoxy or any other household adhesives!
More common than losing a permanent crown is dislodging a temporary crown. These provisional restorations are used to save space between the first preparation appointment and delivery of the final crown. Thus, they are made and cemented with easy removal in mind. If you lose a temporary crown, it is important to return to your dentist ASAP. Waiting until the permanent crown is finished can leave the underlying tooth vulnerable to chipping, nerve irritation or movement from the adjacent teeth.
At Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry, we always make time for our patients' urgent problems. Wether a lost crown, tooth ache or broken appliance, we are here to help. If you would like to know more about what do to during various dental emergencies, please give our office a call!