Critical Measures To Take When Your Tooth Crown Gets Dislodged

Tooth crowns are one of the most popular dental restorative treatments, and this is due to several reasons. For starters, dental crowns are an affordable option when looking to secure cracked teeth without having to extract them. Moreover, tooth crowns are adept at reinforcing weak teeth, which is indispensable when it comes to guarding against future damage. You can also opt for tooth crowns for cosmetic reasons, for example, if one or more of your teeth are severely stained, a crown will flawlessly match the color and shape of your natural teeth. But while tooth crowns are designed for longevity, they are vulnerable to coming loose when exposed to impact prematurely. If you acquire a traumatic injury to your mouth and the dental crown falls off, here are two critical measures that you need to take.

Secure The Affected Tooth

Your first instinct might be to start searching for the missing tooth crown, but before that, you need to make sure that your affected tooth is not at risk of irreparable damage. Individuals that have had a dental crown installed after root canal therapy or due to structural damage to their teeth are at a heightened risk of exacerbating the condition of their tooth. Hence, the first measure you need to take is to protect the tooth until you get the chance to visit an emergency dentist. One of the easiest ways of doing this is by molding dental cement over the area the crown occupied. Dental cement can be bought over the counter at your local drugstore. If dental cement is unavailable, dental wax is an ideal alternative to consider. Coating the tooth in this substance will not only keep it secure but will also prevent the nerve endings from being exposed to external elements. Be cognizant of the fact that it is inadvisable to eat or drink before you see a dentist because foods and beverages could compromise the dental cement and leave your damaged tooth vulnerable to injury.

Disinfect The Tooth Crown

Once your damaged tooth is secured, you can locate the tooth crown and disinfect it. The best way to do this is to hold it under running water so that any debris that may have attached to the tooth crown can wash away. When the dental crown is free of detritus, you can use soap and a soft-bristled toothbrush to polish the surfaces of the crown. You could be tempted to reattach the tooth crown on your own, but this is highly inadvisable. Considering that there is a risk of tiny tooth fragments breaking off with the dislodged crown, you must leave the attachment process to a dentist.

For more information on tooth crowns, contact your dentist. 


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