Addressing the issue of a lost crown

The health of the dental cavity, just like any other part of the body, deserves to be given notable attention. This is even more important when one starts to have some concerns about certain tissues, organs, or other components of the dental space. In light of this, the focus here is the management of lost dental crowns. Losing a dental crowncould arise as a result of the impact the teeth might have been subjected to or it may just get swallowedaccidentally. Whatever the case may be, there is a need to take prompt actionif your temporary crown fell off.

What should I do after losing my dental crown?

Seeing a dentist is usually viewed as the very first thing to do – and this is not wrong in any way. However, there are a few things you can do even before scheduling an appointment with a specialist. These would help limit the damage that the underlying tooth will be opened to and also brighten the chances of having better treatment outcomes when you get to visit the dentist.

So, without further ado; here are some of the observances you should consider while you anticipate seeing a dentist:

  • First and foremost, if you’ve got the lost temporary crown, clean it using mild soap and water, and then keep it hygienically. There’s no cause for alarm if you can’t find it though.
  • Regularly inspect the oral space to ensure that the surrounding tissues are preserved, and do not compromise on general oral hygiene.
  • You can apply dental cement or dental wax to temporarily cover the area. You can
  • Avoid chewing foods on the side of the mouth where the crown has gone missing. This means that if you lose a crown on the left side, you should use the right going forward. By this, you will prevent or limit the chances of food debris getting into the exposed space.
  • Avoid eating crunchy and sticky foods that can easily get into the area having the crown missing to cause you more pain. You may even avoid chewy foods altogether.
  • Leave cold drinks/beverages out of the list of your favorite consumables while the lost crown issue remains unaddressed.

How will the dentist address the situation?

There are two corrective measures that can be taken by the dentist to address the issue of a crown that has fallen off. For one, if the crown is available, he/she will simply fix it back after some cleaning. Where the crown is damaged or unfound, the dentist will aim to provide a replacement crown which is mostly created from metal. Resin and porcelain are the other materials used in making a dental crown.

How long do dental crowns last?

A dental crown can last for up to 10 – 30 years depending on its material composition, as well as how well you maintain it. The metallic sort is usually the most durable while the ones made from resin do not really last as such.

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