What Should I Do About a Lost Dental Crown?

January 4, 2022

Filed under: Uncategorized — Shahram Modarres @ 9:05 pm
dental crown illustration

Just because it may not be the magnitude of an emergency like a knocked-out tooth, a lost dental crown is still significant, and you should seek treatment from your dentist as soon as you can. Crowns are intended to keep your damaged or compromised teeth from becoming harmed any further. While they are very strong, they aren’t completely indestructible. It isn’t unheard of for them to fall out for several reasons. Keep reading for tips from your dentist in Rockville on how you should respond to protect your smile.

Contact Your Dentist in Rockville

Once your crown falls out, you should act quickly, but calmly. Do your best to look around for it. If it is still in your mouth, take it out. You should carefully clean the part of your mouth where the crown was located. Be especially gentle because the area could be more sensitive than usual. Give your dentist in Rockville a call and schedule an urgent appointment. Let them know if you are in any pain.

Examine the Area and Clean Your Crown

Look on the inside of your crown and remove any debris or old cement. Check to be sure that no portion of your natural tooth has broken off and is still lodged within the crown. Carefully run your tongue over your underlying tooth so you can see if it’s sharp or smooth. You don’t want to risk accidentally hurting the soft tissues in your mouth. If your crown is hollow, you might be able to place it back on the tooth for the time being. Follow the instructions of your dentist to see whether an adhesive should be used.

Exercise Caution

Until you can get to the dental office, you should be avoiding chewy and sticky foods that could cause additional damage. Chew on the opposite side of your mouth and eat only soft foods until the issue has been resolved by your dentist in Rockville.

Go to Your Dentist’s Office

When the time for your appointment arrives, your dentist will look to see if your crown can be replaced or if you need to have a new one created. Either way, they will clean the area and cement the crown or a temporary crown to your tooth.

While a dislodged crown isn’t a rare occurrence, it still warrants attention from your dentist as soon as possible. By following the steps discussed above, you’ll put yourself in a position to get your smile back in business promptly!

About the Author

Dr. Shahram Modarres earned his dental doctorate from New York University and he’s a member of the American Dental Association, as well as the Academy of General Dentistry. Working hard for the smiles of his patients for more than two decades now, Dr. Modarres has a passion for medicine and enjoys being able to see his patients getting positive results throughout their treatment process. If you are interested in a dental crown, in two appointments he can design one to match the tooth in question in shape, size, and shade to last 10-15 years. You can schedule an appointment on his website or by calling (301) 816-9401.