Short-Term Management For A Lost Dental Crown

Dentist Blog

Dental crowns are applied to a prepared tooth and then cemented into place. The use of cement suggests that the attachment is permanent, and for most people, it is. The crown itself might require replacement after years of wear and tear, but this shouldn't need to happen for a few decades or so. Occasionally, the cement holding the crown in place might loosen its grip and cause the crown to detach from the underlying tooth. What's the best way to deal with this?

The Earliest Possible Appointment

Retain the crown and keep it in a safe place. After that, you first need to contact your dentist to arrange the earliest possible appointment. Your dentist will need to assess the crown and the underlying tooth. If the tooth has undergone any deterioration (which may have caused the cement to fail in the first place), this will need to be rectified. Sometimes this will require a root canal or restoration work to rebuild the tooth so that it can accommodate the new crown. In many cases, the crown can be recemented as is, which should happen as soon as possible.

Dental Adhesives

When it can't happen as soon as you would like (such as if your dentist doesn't have any immediately available appointments), it's important to manage your temporarily vulnerable tooth until the crown can be reattached. Ask your dentist whether they recommend using a dental adhesive, which can be found at most drugstores. Exercise caution when using a dental adhesive, though. If you use too little, the crown will quickly detach again. If you use too much, the crown will be positioned too high, which can create an uncomfortable misalignment of your bite. Do not use dental adhesive unless specifically directed to do so by your dentist.

Being Cautious

Your dentist may advise against using an adhesive. It might be that they can't see you immediately, but they can make any attempt to temporarily cement the crown redundant in the next few upcoming days. In this case, you can manage the tooth's vulnerability by being cautious with what you eat and drink. The exposed tooth can be sensitive to temperature extremes now that it lacks its protective crown, and so you should avoid anything excessively hot or cold. Should you experience discomfort, this can be managed with over-the-counter pain medication.

You don't need to worry when a dental crown detaches, as it's generally a temporary inconvenience instead of a serious problem. All you need to be concerned about is the short-term management of the issue until your dentist can arrange a permanent solution. Keep these tips in mind when you have dental crowns.

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23 August 2021