Is a crown falling out a dental emergency?

Dental crowns dentist Plano , TX and Melissa TX

Many of our patients have asked is a crown falling out a dental emergency. The simple answer is losing your crown isn’t a dental emergency unless pain is involved, but you’ll still need to schedule an appointment with your dentist to get your crown replaced so it does not become a larger oral problem. While you wait to see the dentist, it’s important to protect your tooth to keep it intact. If you loose a crown, our emergency dentists in Plano and Melissa TX are here to help at either location.

Is a crown falling or broken crown an emergency?

The only time you’d need to call the emergency dentist in Plano or the emergency dentist in Melissa for a broken crown is if the jagged edges are sharp to avoid cutting your tongue or cheek. If this is the case, you may need emergency dental care so you don’t accidentally cut your tongue or cheek. If the area where the crown fell out is not sharp or in pain, you may be able wait a few days for your dental appointment.

What should I do if a crown falls off?

If your dental crown falls off, the first thing you will need to do is call our dentist office in Plano or Melissa. We will schedule your dental appointment as soon as possible depending on the severity. If you experience discomfort, use over-the-counter pain relievers.

If the area of the tooth where the crown is sharp, mold dental putty or wax over your tooth so it helps protect you from cutting your cheek or tongue. Dental putty is also used to push errant wire braces back into place. Most drug stores or pharmacies sell dental wax.

Save the crown to see if the dentist can reuse it, but keep in mind it’s not always that simple. If the crown fits perfectly and there is no recurrent decay in the tooth and no other issues in the tooth or with the crown, then the dentist will likely be willing to simply re-cement the crown. If the crown has been out of the mouth for more than a very short amount of time the tooth may shift making re-cementation of the crown impossible.

If you need a new dental crown, our dentist will take impressions of your teeth to send to the lab. He’ll then place a temporary crown over your tooth. When you return for your second appointment, your permanent tooth crown will be ready.

Common questions from patients about crowns and if it is a dental emergency?

• Can I still eat if my crown falls out?
  Yes, but you’ll need to protect the affected tooth first to avoid damaging it further. You will need to chew on the side opposite of your missing dental crown. Once you protect your tooth, you’ll be able to eat. Stay away from foods that are hard to chew or sticky. That way, you won’t damage your tooth.
• What happens if you swallow your crown?
  If you indeed swallowed your dental crown, it should pass in a few days. Dental crowns are small and smooth, which makes it easy for them to pass through the digestive tract.

Call our Plano dental office or Melissa dental office today!

Fred Haight DDS is an emergency dentist located in Plano, TX and Melissa, TX. To request an appointment for emergency dental care, call 972-527-5555 or request an appointment online. While you wait to see our dentist, it’s important to protect your tooth so it stays intact.