Dental crowns are among the most recommended treatment options for restorative dentistry. They can help protect your natural tooth after suffering decay or damage, and they help restore your bite after a single dental implant. When you lose a dental crown in Baltimore, MD, your tooth is often exposed to further harm. While it could be okay to wait a day or two for treatment, time is often of the essence. It’s important that you contact your dentist right away for treatment after a dental crown falls out.

Restoring a Lost Dental Crown in Baltimore, MD

While your dental crown is designed to be durable and long-lasting, there are ways it could loosen or fall out. Chewing on particularly gummy or sticky foods, for example, could put excess pressure on your crown and cause the bonding to loosen. Physical force or trauma to the mouth could also cause your crown to suffer damage or fall out. Sometimes, even flossing your tooth at the wrong angle could loosen a crown. When a crown does come out, there are ways your dentist can help.

Resetting the Crown

If you can locate the crown and it has no damage, your dentist may be able to reset it. To do this, they’ll clean your tooth or abutment, removing any old bonding material that may have lost its adhesive properties. They’ll then reapply new bonding material and set your crown. It’s common for crowns to come loose or fall out with improper chewing or hygiene habits during the first day or two after bonding. Therefore, it’s crucial that you pay close attention to the area and use gentle pressure when cleaning to ensure the bonding material has time to set properly.

Replacing the Crown

If you cannot locate the crown, or if the crown has suffered damage, your dentist may need to replace it. Using a damaged crown could lead to further complications. While your dentist may be able to fix minor damages, more extensive cases will need replacement. However, leaving your tooth unprotected while the new crown is fabricated isn’t a good idea. So, typically, your dentist will provide you with a temporary crown while waiting for your new permanent crown.

Extraction

If you lost your crown due to physical trauma, your natural tooth may have suffered additional damage. In some cases, your dentist may recommend extracting the tooth to help preserve your oral health. While this is often a rare occurrence, it could be the best option for excessive damage. If this happens, your dentist will often recommend coordinated treatment to include a dental implant or other restoration.

If your dental crown comes loose or falls out, it’s important to stay calm and act quickly. The sooner you see your dentist, the better. At Horizon Family Dental, we work hard to see all emergency patients in a timely manner. Call us today at 410-774-5167 to schedule your appointment and learn more about our dental crown services.