What to do if You Have a Loose Crown or Filling
Most of us have had the unfortunate experience of having a crown come loose or a filling fall out. Needless to say there would never be a convenient time for this to happen. What do you do when you aren’t where you can get to the dentist right away? Read on to find ways to preserve your tooth and your dignity until you can make an appointment with Dr. Angela S. Evanson, DDS for a permanent solution.
First Things First
If a crown or filling falls out, rinse it well and put it in a container to keep it clean and dry.
Then call Dr. Angela S. Evanson, DDS at (720) 409-0008 for an emergency appointment. We can usually set a same-day appointment to prevent further damage from occurring to your tooth or the crown or filling. After you have an appointment scheduled, brush your teeth to remove any debris and rinse well to prevent bacteria that could cause decay.
Are You in Pain?
You might experience pain when the uncovered tooth surface is exposed to air, or hot and cold temperatures. If your tooth is hurting, buy some clove oil from the pharmacy and apply it to your gum area that is hurting. This is a temporary form of relief and is not meant to continue for days.
If the crown or filling was lost, apply some dental cement directly to the sensitive tooth surface. This temporary solution protects and seals the tooth until you can see Dr. Evanson.
If your tooth is structurally sound and the crown or filling still fits well, Dr. Evanson will just clean the tooth and reapply the crown or filling with a permanent adhesive. If the filling or crown came loose because of tooth decay, Dr. Evanson will remove the decay and create a new filling or crown to fit your newly repaired tooth.
Why Do Crowns and Fillings Come Loose?
Tooth Decay: Bacteria can make their way underneath and cause tooth decay if the seal around a filling or crown isn’t airtight. This changes the shape of your tooth and may cause the bond to loosen so the crown or filling no longer fits properly.
Minimal Bonding Surface: Crowns and fillings on your front teeth have a much smaller surface to adhere to. The bonding agent for a crown may simply come loose over time and give way.
Surface Pressure: If a crown or filling on a molar isn’t trimmed just right, extra pressure on the biting surface might occur when you chew. Tooth grinding or clenching causes even more pressure. Over time, this could cause the crown or filling to come loose.
Old Fillings: Fillings generally last 5 to 15 years. Your tooth filling may have failed because it needs to be replaced due to wear and tear. If you have fillings that fall out repeatedly, Dr. Evanson will check to see if there is enough tooth structure left to hold the filling. If there isn’t enough tooth surface to adequately hold a filling, it is probably time to have a crown put on your tooth.
Whatever the Cause, Contact Dr. Evanson Right Away
It’s important to see Dr. Evanson as quickly as possible after losing a crown or filling. If a crown is missing for a long period of time, adjacent teeth could begin to shift and prevent the crown from ever fitting properly again. Delays can also cause what’s left of your tooth to become damaged.
If you lost a filling or had a crown come loose, please contact us online or call (720) 409-0008 as soon as possible!
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