What to Do When a Crown Falls off Your Tooth?
More than 15 million people in the U.S. have crowns. With that many individuals with dental implants, a loose crown is bound to happen for at least a few of them. Those with a crown that has fallen out should stay calm. There are numerous reasons that crowns come loose. The important thing is to protect the tooth quickly and get to a dentist as soon as possible.
Why do crowns come loose?
A crown may come loose for any number of reasons, including:
- The tooth underneath becoming decayed
Having a crown does not make the underlying tooth invincible. Cavities can form on crowned teeth and typically occur where the crown and tooth connect along the gum-line.
- Eating too many of the wrong types of food
Foods that require someone to chew harder than normal and sticky foods can decrease the lifespan of crowns. Consumption of these foods should be minimized to the extent possible. If eating these foods is unavoidable, chewing on teeth that don’t contain crowns would be ideal.
- Heavy grinding of the tooth (Bruxism)
10 percent of the populations suffers from Bruxism, which is essentially the grinding of the teeth. This unconscious grinding can have enough force to cause the teeth to crack and crowns to break.
- Lack of tooth structure to hold the crown
Most common in back teeth, teeth can be too short for the crown to adhere. Without sufficient base to grab on to, crowns become loose and eventually fall off.
- Life Expectancy of the Crown
Crowns are estimated to last between five in fifteen years. For patients who have had their crowns for a long time, they may have reached the end of their life cycle.
Take action to protect the tooth
- Make an appointment with a dentist right away to get the problem fixed.Delay in having the crown attached can result in further some cases can result in loss of the tooth.
- Those who experience pain as a result of the tooth now being exposed may apply some clove oil to the sensitive area.
- Purchase some temporary dental adhesive from a local drugstore.Carefully clean the area of the exposed tooth before applying the cement.These adhesives are not as strong as those used by a dental professional, so care should be taken to avoid hard or sticky foods.Chewing on the side of the mouth away from the affected tooth is best.If your tooth fractured as a result of the crown becoming loose, consulting a dentist is the only option. Avoid attempts .
By temporarily replacing the crown this will help to minimize the tooth’s sensitivity to hot and cold beverages. Additional, by wearing the crown, this will reduce the potential for tooth shifting of either the crown stub, neighboring, or opposing teeth.
While a loose crown can be alarming, it is a common emergency in the dental world. With proper care and follow up with the dentist, the likelihood of any significant negative effects is drastically reduced.