Dental Crown Fell Out? Don’t Panic – Here’s What To Do!

Dental crowns are set in place with durable, strong dental cement that can last years and even decades. But over time, crowns can become loose due to daily wear and tear, particularly if you eat a lot of sticky or gummy foods. Tooth decay under the crown can also loosen the crown over time.

This can cause your crown to fall out. But if this happens, don’t panic! This dental emergency is quite common, and a dentist like Dr. Daniel Bickel can restore your crown and your tooth at Redmond Art of Dentistry. 

Not sure what to do? Let’s go over a few steps that you should take to restore your crown and protect your oral health after your crown falls out of your mouth. ‍

1. Recover The Crown And Store It Safely‍

First, grab the crown and rinse it off with water. Put it into a small plastic container or a plastic bag to keep it safe and secure, and bring it in with you to your appointment at Redmond Art of Dentistry.

If you think you swallowed the crown, you may want to go to the ER or urgent care to see a medical doctor. This is because it’s possible that you aspirated (breathed) the crown into your lungs, and this could be a life-threatening situation. 

A doctor can take x-rays to ensure you swallowed it, rather than aspirating the crown. If you did swallow your crown, though, there’s nothing to worry about. It will pass harmlessly through your digestive tract in a few days. ‍

2. Call Redmond Art Of Dentistry For A Same-Day Appointment‍

Next, contact Redmond Art of Dentistry for a consultation. A lost crown is a dental emergency, so we offer same-day appointments. If you can’t come in right away, you should still schedule treatment within 24-48 hours of losing your crown. 

This ensures you protect your tooth. The structure below your tooth is weak and vulnerable to decay, and may also feel very tender and sensitive. It needs to be protected by reattaching or replacing your crown ASAP.‍

3. Pick Up Some Temporary Dental Cement, If Recommended ‍

If you can’t come in right away, Dr. Packard may recommend that you run to the drugstore to get some temporary dental cement. Follow the instructions on the package to apply this to your crown and your tooth and cement the crown back in place. This is only a temporary fix, but will protect your tooth until your appointment.‍

4. Deal With Pain & Discomfort‍

You can take over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen or naproxen to help with pain. We also recommend avoiding chewing on the side of your mouth with the missing or temporarily reattached crown. This will help prevent discomfort. ‍

5. Come To Your Consultation To Have Your Crown Reattached Or Replaced ‍

Come to Redmond Art of Dentistry as soon as you can to restore your smile permanently. Depending on the situation, Dr. Bickel may be able to permanently reattach your existing crown, or he may need to replace it and build a new crown.‍

Lost Your Crown? Schedule A Consultation In Redmond Today! ‍

If your dental crown has fallen out, don’t wait. The sooner you get treatment, the better. Get emergency dental care in Redmond from Dr. Daniel Bicke. Contact us at (425) 883-1331 to speak to a team member right away, and schedule your consultation at Redmond Art of Dentistry.