Occasionally, I get a call after hours or on the weekend from a patient who has had a crown come off. Although rare, this can occur for various reasons but the crown can be easily reattached if certain steps are taken.
For a quick fix to hold the crown in place until you can get into our office, purchase a dental cement, sold in most drug stores. You’ll only need a small amount but this will secure the crown to the tooth temporarily. Try to avoid biting or chewing in the area of the crown and brush gently. When flossing, use an upward (if an upper crown) or downward (if a lower crown) motion only, pulling the floss out as you reach the gum line.
Even though drug store cement seems to secure the crown, it is a material that is made to be easily removed by a dentist so a dental adhesive can restore your ability to bite, chew and speak without concern.
NEVER use permanent household glues (such as Crazy Glue or Gorilla Glue) on a crown. Once this material is in the crown, it is extremely difficult to remove and the crown could be damaged during the process, requiring a new crown.
If the crown chips, it may require replacement depending on the size and area of the chip. A broken crown will need to be remade. In either case, bring your crown with you to your appointment.
While dental emergencies are rare, they seem to occur at the worst of times. We want to make replacement as quick and easy as possible to get you back to your terrific smile!
Call 1-866-9-Smiles for more information.
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