Eating your dinner, you chew on an apple and notice your dental crown has fallen out! Oh no, what do you do?
A dental crown, or cap, is a tooth-shaped cover that a dentist places to treat badly damaged teeth. A filling is a cover on a portion of the tooth protecting it from bacteria. Both fillings and crowns treat damaged teeth, restore bite alignment, and restores the tooth’s physical appearance. Each one serves an important purpose of protecting damaged teeth and preventing further damage.
However, in some cases, a dental crown or filling may fall out causing you to lose it. Some common ways that people may lose their crows or fillings include continued decay, chewy foods, and teeth grinding. If a decayed tooth continues to decay after it has been fitted for a dental crown, the tooth may not be able to hold the dental crown in place, and it may become loose and fall out. Additionally, if you eat chewy foods, such as gum, the food may stick to the crown pulling it off or making it loose. Finally, if you have a bad habit of grinding your teeth, you may cause the crown to break off or fall out.
Losing a dental crown or filling is extremely common; however, it is crucial that you seek medical attention right away at your dentist. If you find that you have lost your dental crown or filling, be sure to follow these instructions:
- Do not try to reattach it yourself unless you are specifically instructed to do so by a professional dentist.
- Examine the tooth to see if the entire crown is out or only a part.
- Call your dentist right away.
Once the dental crown or filling is out and you’ve examined the area, you’ll be able to communicate with your dentist the best possible options for treatment. In many cases, you may need to have the tooth refilled or fitted for another dental crown.
As Wells Family Dentistry, located in Raleigh, NC, we offer emergency services to assist you with such a circumstance. If you have lost your dental crown or filling, we’d be happy to schedule you with a professional dentist that can assess the damage and provide the best service and treatment. If you are experiencing immense pain or discomfort, be sure to communicate with your dentist. We aim to serve you and work with you to the best of our ability.
Lost Crown and Need Assistance in 2018?
Have you lost a crown and need immediate dental assistance in 2018? Our team at Wells Family Dental Group can help. We have three convenient locations in Raleigh including Downtown, Leesville Road and North Raleigh. Rather than putting your oral health at risk, we strongly suggest contacting an emergency dentist as soon as you lose your dental crown.