What Do I Do if My Crown Falls Off?
If your dental crown falls off, don’t panic. Losing your dental crown is not an emergency, but you’ll still want to make an appointment to have it fixed. Our dentist will either repair your broken crown or fit you with a new one. If you can’t get into our office right away, here’s what you need to know.
Do I Need Urgent Dental Care?
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.
What Do I Do While I Wait for My Appointment?
Don’t panic. If your dental 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. Use over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce any pain or discomfort.
If your dental crown is intact, we recommend buying some dental cement from the drug store. Next, you’ll want to clean the inside of your tooth crown. Apply the dental cement to your actual tooth and place your tooth crown on top. Hold the tooth crown in place until the cement dries.
If your dental crown isn’t intact, we still recommend keeping it to show our dental crown dentist. Our dentist may be able to use your 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 With a Missing Dental Crown?
Yes, but first you need to protect your tooth (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. However, 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 dental crown.
What Happens if I Swallow My Dental Crown?
Call a medical doctor immediately if you think you swallowed your crown by accident. This is an emergency. There’s a chance you could have aspirated it instead and your tooth crown may be 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 tooth crown, it should pass in a few days. This is not an emergency. Dental crowns are small and smooth, which makes it easy for them to pass through the digestive tract.
What Can I Expect at My Appointment?
If your dental crown is intact, our dentist may be able to place it back on your tooth. Otherwise, our dentist may need to make a new . If you need a new dental crown, our dentist will need to take impressions of your teeth to send to the lab.
They’ll then place a temporary crown over your tooth. When you return for your second appointment, your permanent tooth crown will be ready.
Ready to Learn More?
If your crown needs replacing, feel free to reach out and contact us online or by phone at (616) 949-5980. As your Grand Rapids, MI dentist, Bander Dental Group can’t wait to help you become more confident in your smile.