A List of Do’s and Don’ts
If your dental crown falls out of your mouth, it may come as a shock. After all, you may have even forgotten you had one in the first place, as it’s probably been in your mouth for years. But no matter how it happens, it’s important to know what to do immediately after it falls out.
Here is a list of do’s and don’ts to follow if you do have a crown come off.
DON’T use glue as temporary cement. I’ve seen patients do this. Please, don’t do it! It is dangerous, and it may ruin the remaining tooth structure underneath the crown.
DO find the crown right away. If you swallowed it, call a medical doctor immediately. There is a chance it went down the wrong pipe. A chest x-ray is typically indicated to ensure the crown is in your digestive tract, not your windpipe.
DON’T wait to call your dentist. He or she will want you to schedule an appointment within 24 to 48 hours of your crown falling out.
DO keep your crown if you find it. There’s a chance it can be recemented into your mouth.
However, if it fell out due to substantial dental decay or if the tooth was broken off inside the crown, a new crown may be required.
DON’T use temporary cement until you talk to your dentist. Dentists may recommend using an over-the-counter cement to keep your tooth in place until they can examine you.
But check with your dentist before you head to the nearest drugstore; you may have a unique situation in which temporary cement would be harmful.
DO keep your crown clean. It may not be in your mouth anymore, but try to keep it clean and in a safe spot until your dentist can examine the your crown and determine if it can be used again.
DON’T eat any chewy or sticky candies or foods on the side of your mouth where you lost the crown.
You need to be careful with the remaining tooth structure that was underneath the crown. And, if you used temporary cement to place your crown back in, you don’t want to risk it coming loose.
DO use ibuprofen and/or clove oil to ease any pain that may occur.
DON’T panic. Crowns may fall out. It happens. No matter what the reason — whether it fell out because it’s old, your bite is off, or have dental decay — it can be fixed.
Work with your dentist to figure out what your options are. He or she will ensure your tooth is in good shape.
If you need a crown repaired, click here to learn more about how much dental crowns cost.
To prevent your crown from falling out, DON’T clench or grind your teeth to keep your crown from breaking. To avoid any damage to the crown and tooth structure that remains under it, DO care for your crown the way you would any other tooth. And…DON’T ignore this article!