What Should I Do About a Lost Dental Crown?

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 East Islip on how you should respond to protect your smile.

Contact Your Dentist

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 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.

Be Careful

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 East Islip.

See Your Dentist

When the time for your appointment arrives, your dentist will look to see if your crown can be reapplied 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 Practice

At East Islip Dental Care, you can entrust your smile to a dedicated team of dental experts, and we’re open seven days a week with evening hours available. With seven dentists on staff, we are ready to assist with any of your oral health needs. Also, we’ll help you maximize your dental insurance benefits. We can help reapply your crown, or if you are dealing with a lost dental crown, we can create a customized, metal-free new one for you. Schedule an appointment on our website or by calling (631) 581-8600.