Dental crowns are a natural option for restorative treatment and offer many benefits to your oral health. A dental crown is also known as a cap, acting as a protective cover to a tooth that is either decayed and damaged. The crown can also help to protect your tooth from food debris and bacteria.
If your dental crown has fallen out or become loose, it is important to be aware that this isn’t uncommon. Although, can become unsettling to you and your tooth, as the tooth that needs protecting is now in danger of being exposed. If this has occurred, a visit to the dentist for emergency treatment is recommended.
Why Do Dental Crowns Fall Out?
There are a number of reasons why your dental crown has fallen out. In some instances, the crown itself may have an issue, or you may have experienced a dental accident causing it to loosen. These may be external factors such as injury, performing bad dental habits or biting down on food. A tooth may also be decayed underneath the crown causing it to become loose.
Another condition that may cause the dental crown to fall off is persistent teeth grinding, a condition that naturally occurs during stress but is uncontrollable during sleep.
Dental crowns may also simply wear out. Crowns are expected to last for a minimum of five years or more, but this also depends on how well you look after them. If well maintained, crowns can last a lifetime.
My Dental Crown Has Fallen Out. What Do I Do?
The fear of a crown becoming loose is for the affected tooth to become exposed to harmful bacteria and infections. Here are some helpful ways as to what to do next if your dental crown has fallen out or is loose.
Tell The Dentist
The first thing you need to do is contact the dentist as quickly as possible. At this stage, you may be unsure of what to do with the dental crown, but the dentist will be able to assess the severity of the damage and advise on treatment. The dentist may request applying temporary adhesive should an appointment not be immediate. These are sold in over-the-counter drug stores. The adhesive helps to temporarily glue the crown back into its position.
Keep The Area Clean
It is important that you continue to perform strong oral hygiene, especially around the affected area. Gently brush in and around the affected area using a soft-bristle toothbrush day and night. Ensure there are no food particles lingering. You should also rinse your mouth with a teaspoon (maximum) of salt in warm water.
Eat On One Side
You must seek to protect the affected area as much as possible, and one way to do this is to avoid eating on the side of the affected area. It is also recommended that you alter your diet to softer foods that are easier to bite down on, such as boiled vegetables, boiled potatoes and soya.
At your appointment, the dentist will disinfect the area and manage any signs of decay or damage. Depending on the level of damage, the dentist will either replace the crown with another or recommend other forms of treatment such as dental implants. It depends on the damage caused by the affected tooth and whether it needs removal owing to decay. If you’re an implant patient and your crown has fallen off, help is here!
If your dental crown has fallen out or has become loose, we can help! Contact our Dentist Hornsby Team at Piazza Dental here to book yourself in with us now!
