Crown Damage and What You Can Do About It

Dental Crown Damage? Here'S What You Can Do About It

Crowns are strong, but what should you do when they become damaged?

Crowns are a type of dental restoration which completely caps or encircles a tooth or dental implant. Crowns are often needed when a large cavity threatens the ongoing health of a tooth. They are typically bonded to the tooth using dental cement. Crowns are extremely strong, however, just like a normal tooth, they are susceptible to damage.

Crown Damage

Crowns are meant to last between five years to two decades. They can, unfortunately, become damaged during this time. The reason for this damage differs on a patient to patient basis. Some of the main causes of damage include:

Malocclusion

An improper bite can put pressure on your crown, causing it to fracture, chip, or move.

Injury

Accidents happen, and injury or other oral trauma can chip, crack, or misalign your crown.

Teeth grinding

Some patients grind their teeth together due to stress, misalignment, or other oral problems. This can wear down the chewing surface of your crown or break it altogether.

Poor dental habits

You must treat your dental crown with care to preserve it. Inadvisable behaviours such as biting on ice cubes and using your teeth to open packages can damage your crown. In addition, failing to properly brush, floss, and rinse your teeth can damage your crown by raising your risk for decay, gum disease, or other issues in the surrounding enamel.

If you have suffered any of these issues, the best thing to do is to make an appointment with your dentist who can remedy or replace your crown. Your dentist will also advise you on the best way forward to avoid any future damage.

My Dental Crown Fell Off – What Now?

This may seem like a traumatic situation, but it can happen. Sometimes this can be due to decay that has affected the enamel beneath the crown causing it to fall off. Sometimes it can be the cause of injury or trauma to the area.

If you still have your crown, you should keep it as there is a chance that it could be cemented back in place by your dentist. Keep it clean and safe until your dentist can see you.

If you don’t have your crown, don’t stress! It can be replaced. But if you accidentally swallowed your crown, you should call a doctor immediately.

Make an urgent appointment with your dentist and allow the professional to handle the situation. Your dentist will most probably want to see you within 24 – 48 hours of your crown falling out.

Your dentist may be able to give you answers such as the reason your crown fell off as well as prevention methods to stop this becoming a repeat occurrence. If your crown fell off due to decay, your dentist will have to rectify and remedy the damage before fitting a new crown.

It is best to remember that you need to take care of your dental restorations (and your teeth for that matter!) Brushing your teeth regularly, flossing and rinsing will ensure that your teeth and restorations remain in good shape. It should be noted that proper brushing is essential – two minutes twice a day with a soft bristled brush.

If your crown comes off, it may come as a bit of a shock. You may have become so accustomed to your crown that you forgot that you had one!

But just relax, your dentist can and will help you fix and prevent this occurrence.

If this has happened or you have further questions, our team is here to help! Contact us today.