If you are scheduled to get a dental crown, then your dentist will often install a temporary crown until your permanent crown is ready. When your dentist prepares your tooth for a dental crown, this involves shaving down the damaged tooth. The temporary crown is put in place to protect your tooth from the external elements until your permanent crown can be installed. Your temporary crown is installed in a manner that makes it easily removable. As a result, it is not uncommon for your temporary crown to fall out of place. Your exposed tooth can easily become infected if it is not protected. Therefore, there are a few tips that you should consider in order to avoid getting a dental infection when your temporary crown falls off.
Use Denture Adhesive to Cement Your Temporary Crown
If you are unable to see a dentist within a day of your temporary crown falling out, then you should use a denture adhesive to temporarily cement it into place. Your temporary crown is not only installed to protect your tooth from infection, but it is also used to hold the space for your permanent crown. If the crown is not cemented shortly, then your teeth will shift into the open slot. In addition, your gums may overgrow in that area. If this happens, then your permanent crown will have to be recreated. You can purchase denture adhesive from the store.
Keep the Exposed Tooth Clean
Once your temporary crown falls out of place, the tooth underneath the crown is more susceptible to infection. The tooth underneath the crown is already weak due to previous tooth decay. As a result, it is important to keep your tooth protected until you can get your temporary crown cemented or a permanent crown. This can be done by practicing proper dental care. This means that you should brush and use an antibacterial rinse after every meal in order to remove lingering food and bacteria.
Soak the Dental Crown in Warm Saltwater
Once your temporary crown falls off, it needs to be thoroughly clean before it is applied. If you choose to cement a dirty crown, this can result in you transferring bacteria from the crown to the tooth. In order to avoid this, you should keep your dental crown soaked in warm salt water until you are able to reapply it. The salt water will help to kill off any bacteria that may find its way into the crown.
A temporary crown is not intended to last long, but if it does fall out too soon, then it can lead to complications. Therefore, use these tips to prevent a dental infection when your temporary crown falls out of place. If you have any other questions about temporary crowns, consider contacting a local dentist, such as Scott W. Murphy, D.M.D., P.A., to discuss your concerns.
Share16 December 2015
If you are someone who hesitates to open your mouth when you smile because you are embarrassed about your teeth, you should know that there are a number of cosmetic techniques that can give you a beautiful smile you will be proud to show to the world. As a cosmetic dentist, I have seen many clients transform their lives simply by fixing their smiles. This blog is meant to encourage people to find out about the possibilities in cosmetic dentistry so they can feel good about their smiles. A beautiful, confident smile really can change your life. I would love to show you how.
