Dental crowns are used to protect vulnerable, painful teeth. As a result, losing one can be a pretty uncomfortable experience.
That said, nothing lasts forever, which means that you need to be prepared in case your dental crown is lost or broken. A lost restoration absolutely constitutes a dental emergency, which warrants immediate attention from your dentist. If you lose a dental crown, here’s what you should do.
Step 1: Secure the Crown
When you lose a dental crown, the first thing you should try to do is to find it. If it’s still in your mouth, take care not to bite down on or swallow it. If you can’t find it, you might try gently swishing around with water to allow it to come out of your mouth.
Once you find your dental crown, set it somewhere safe. If you preserve it well, your dentist may even be able to replace it.
Step 2: Call your Dentist
Once you’ve found the dental crown, or if you were unable to, you should then call your dentist. They’ll be happy to schedule you for an emergency appointment as quickly as possible. Your dentist will also give you some advice on what you can do to remain comfortable until your appointment.
Step 3: Ease Discomfort
The last thing you need to do is to try and ease any discomfort you’re feeling until your emergency appointment. First of all, you may want to fill the area of decay with something until you can have your dental crown replaced; you can find temporary filling materials suited to this purpose at any pharmacy. If you’d like, you could even ask your dentist for a specific recommendation for a brand that would work.
Over-the-counter pain relief can also be incredibly useful. If that isn’t enough, you can also try a cold compress or a saltwater rinse to help ease any discomfort you’re feeling.
Keep that in mind, and you should be able to reach your emergency appointment in relative comfort.
About Our Practice
At Taylor Choice Dental, we are committed to making every appointment the best that it can be for our patients. We know there’s no shortage of dentists, which is why work hard to distinguish ourselves. We do this by pairing state-of-the-art dentistry with a caring touch that can put all of our patients at ease. No matter what kind of dental care you need, we’re here to help you.
If you have any questions about how best to handle a lost dental crown, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (737) 758-3676.