A dental crown is a highly effective restorative dentistry tool that features a ceramic cap sealed over a vulnerable tooth. It covers damaged enamel, enhancing a tooth’s appearance, function, and health.
Though durable, crowns are not completely indestructible. Under high amounts of pressure, a crown could chip or dislodge from the tooth. Then the underlying tooth will be in danger of further dental damage.
You will need to seek prompt repair or replacement of a broken crown. In order to act quickly, it will help to know the necessary steps ahead of this accident actually occurring. Read on to find actions you should take if you sustain harm to your dental crown.
What to Do If You Damage a Dental Crown
Call Your Dentist Right Away
When your dentist gives you a dental crown, they must shave away a minute amount of your tooth enamel to make room for the cap. If your crown sustains damage, breaking the seal of the cap, then the tooth is exposed. Plaque and other external dangers can threaten its structure. You will need urgent dental attention to fix the crown and protect the tooth to avoid additional problems.
You might not always feel pain after this type of accident. But you should still call your dentist about this dental work damage as soon as you can. The dentist can offer advice about how to handle your immediate symptoms and what further action is needed over the phone.
Attend Emergency Dentist Appointment
Your dentist will likely ask you to come to their office for an emergency dentist appointment. Make sure you bring your dental crown with you if it has dislodged completely.
They will begin by examining the affected tooth, the crown, and the surrounding area of the mouth for signs of any other dental problems. If the tooth is otherwise healthy and the crown remains intact, they will use dental cement to place it back over your tooth.
If the crown is too damaged, the dentist will need to make another custom crown to replace it. With CEREC dental crowns, the dentist can build the perfect fixture for you within the same day.
Avoid Further Harm to Your Dental Crown
Once a dental crown is safely in place over your tooth, you will want to take measures to ensure you do not hurt your dental work again. Pay attention to your oral habits, including the foods you eat. Biting on hard items like fingernails or ice could generate pressure that will damage a crown.
Chronic behaviors like teeth grinding will also exert abnormal pressure on a crown that may wear down the fixture over time. Talk to your dentist for advice to stop this harmful habit.
You can also protect your dental crown along with the rest of your smile with good oral hygiene. Crowns will resist staining and decay. But the rest of your smile could form cavities, gum disease, or other issues if you do not keep your teeth clean. Brush your teeth twice a day at least and floss daily to get rid of harmful plaque and keep your dental work functioning at its best.