Dental crowns protect a broken tooth by completely covering it. They are designed to stay in place for several years, but they can come out accidentally for any number of reasons, such as injury, poor dental hygiene or chewing tough foods. Fortunately, it is not a serious problem as long as you follow the right steps.
Retrieve the crown
Firstly, make sure you find the crown. It is most likely that you were eating when it came out. If so, you should try not to swallow it. It will pass through harmlessly if you do, but it could be a choking hazard and it will be easier for your dentist if you can keep hold of it.
Clean the crown
It may be possible for your dentist to fit the same crown back in place. To make this easier, clean it thoroughly in water. You may also want to clean it with a denture steriliser. You should then keep it in a small container, and make sure you do not lose it.
Call your dentist
You should then arrange to see your dentist as soon as possible. A lost crown is not an emergency in itself, but it exposes the tooth below to further decay. If the tooth is still alive, you may also feel sensitivity without the crown. It is best to have the crown replaced as soon as possible.
Consider temporary cement
If your dentist agrees, you can fit the crown back in place temporarily by using dental temporary cement. This is not intended to be a permanent solution and will not be as strong as the original glue, but it can be useful for aesthetic reasons if the crown was covering a front tooth. Don't be tempted to use superglue, as this can be difficult for your dentist to remove.
Keep the tooth clean
Finally, make sure you keep up your dental hygiene regime. The newly exposed tooth will be susceptible to decay from small particles of food. It can also be harder for your dentist to fix the crown back in place if debris has gotten between your teeth. Keep brushing and flossing so that the crown can be restored easily and effectively.
A lost crown is nothing to worry about, as long as you contact a local dentist as soon as possible. They will then be able to check the tooth and fit a new crown before any further decay can take place.
Share