Listen to Your Dentist When They Recommend Wisdom Teeth Extraction

When you get a crown, it is fitted and adhered to your tooth in a way that it should be trouble free for many years. However, if it falls off, then it can be a dental emergency because you may experience pain or sensitivity and risk cracking the exposed tooth. In the meantime, there are some things you can do to both protect the tooth and preserve the crown. Here are some ways that you could lose a crown and what you can do if this happens to you.

Common Reasons Why Crowns Fall Off

There are several reasons why your crown may become loose or come off. One of the main reasons is that it wasn't installed properly in the first place. This is especially true if your crown is new. Another reason could be that the tooth underneath the crown has become decayed enough so that the crown doesn't fit. A third reason could be that you suffered a direct blow to the crown in such a way that the crown is knocked off.

What to Do If Your Crown Falls Off

If your crown falls off, don't panic and make sure you can find or catch it. The dentist will need it either to place it back on your tooth or as a template for a new crown. In some cases, you can push the crown back on and use dental cement to hold it until you can see your dentist. If you can't find the crown, try to find the dental cement anyway and use it directly on the tooth to seal its surface until you can visit a dental clinic, like Family 1st Dental. 

How Your Dentist Will Restore Your Tooth

Your dentist will examine the tooth that held the crown to make sure that it has not become more decayed. In some cases, you may need to have the tooth restored with a new filling or reshaped with a new crown made. However, if there isn't a lot of the tooth left, then you may have to explore other alternatives, such as a dental bridge, veneer, or implant.

While losing a crown isn't the type of emergency that will immediately put your health at risk, it's still important to see your dentist as soon as possible. If you don't, then not only will you continue to feel discomfort and have a weird gap in your teeth, but your tooth could break down from the lack of protection. If your crown is loose or has popped off, then contact your dentist promptly.