Television shows display extreme cases of people who prepare for the worst-case scenarios. They have houses full of supplies and have plans for whatever may occur. While these examples can take preparation to an entirely new level, it is a good idea to have plans for urgent situations. For instance, in a dental emergency, do you know what you would do if you lost a crown? Thinking through the correct response now can help you act more efficiently to resolve the problem. Here are the steps to take should this happen to you.
Call, Don’t Panic
If your dental crown comes off your tooth, your first, and perhaps involuntary, response might be to panic or feel overwhelmed with stress, but try to remain calm. Reacting rashly could lead you to poor choices and put your tooth at risk of additional damage.
Instead, pick up your phone and call your dentist. Their team can schedule a same- or next-day appointment to address your problem as soon as possible. They can also provide more specific instructions for safely handling the situation until your emergency visit.
Inspect and Clean the Crown
Once you locate your lost crown, look at it carefully for clear indications of breakage or damage. If it seems still useable, gently rinse the restoration off with clean water. However, if you can’t find the crown or it appears to be badly damaged, keep and bring it with you to the appointment, but don’t worry about placing it back in your mouth.
Reattach the Crown Temporarily
With an intact crown, put a small dab of toothpaste on the interior, the part that would connect to the tooth. Gently reposition the restoration on top of the tooth and press until it feels somewhat secure. Do not try to use superglue or any other kind of adhesive. These convenient household products may work for other projects, but they were never intended for oral use and could cause complications. Also, keep in mind that using toothpaste offers a temporary solution—you still need to see the dentist for a more long-term fix.
Prepare for a New Crown
Depending on how old or damaged the crown is, your dentist may need to order a replacement for you. Supposing it is still relatively new and unharmed, your crown may simply be bonded back on with dental cement. Otherwise, a new restoration may protect your tooth better moving forward.
You don’t have to be a doomsday prepper or a pessimist to have a plan in place for emergency scenarios like losing a dental crown. Thinking through your process can give you peace of mind in an otherwise stressful situation.
About the Author
Dr. Sujal Patel has degrees and certifications in dentistry in both India and the United States. Dedicated to ongoing education and training courses, Dr. Patel and his team at Coco Dental Center utilize the best technology available in dentistry and have a special offer on an emergency visit with an exam and X-rays included, for only $29. If you have lost a crown or experienced another dental emergency, give our Dallas office a call at 972-818-5649 or visit our Contact Us page on the website.