Has Your Tooth Crown Fallen Out? How To Temporarily Reattach It

A dental crown falling off of your tooth is not a dental emergency. As such, you may be unable to get an appointment to see your dentist and have the crown fixed for a few days. During this time, your weakened tooth is exposed. For many people, the tooth that is now exposed can be sensitive, especially to hot and cold sensations or to pressure when you bite down while chewing. If you have lost a crown, you may be able to temporarily reattach the crown and help minimize the sensitivity you feel until your dentist can reattach the crown or attach a new one. Here are the steps you will want to follow to temporarily reattach the crown. 

Examine the Crown

After a crown has fallen off of your tooth, the first thing that you will want to do is turn it upside down and examine it. The crown should have a hole in the center of it and be hollow. A crown is a cap-like item that fits over your tooth. However, in some cases, when your cap loosens and breaks, it takes part of your tooth with it. If you see any part of your tooth with it, you cannot reattach the crown yourself and should let your dentist know right away. If part of the tooth has been removed, your dentist may want to see you right away. If none of the tooth has been removed, proceed to the next step. 

Clean the Crown

The next step to temporarily reattaching the crown is to carefully clean the crown. Use your toothbrush and toothpaste to remove any old food particles or cement that is lingering inside of the crown before you attempt to reattach it in your mouth. After that, use your toothbrush and toothpaste to carefully clean the tooth that you are going to reattach the crown to, ensuring that no food particles or debris are on the tooth. 

Dry Your Mouth

After you have cleaned your tooth and the crown, you will need to dry the area you are adhering the crown to. Use a piece of gauze to dry the area as much as possible. The drier it is, the more likely it will adhere. 

Apply Dental Cement

Lastly, apply a small amount of over-the-counter dental cement to the inside of the crown. Then slide the crown over your tooth. Hold it firmly in place until the cement hardens. If the crown sticks and does not wiggle, you have successfully temporarily reattached the crown to your tooth. 

Reattaching the crown temporarily yourself is not a substitute for having your dentist attach the tooth in a more stable fashion. If a crown has fallen off of your tooth, you will want to contact your dentist's office and let them know. While this is not a dental emergency, they will typically fit you in the schedule within a few days. Getting a crown back on your tooth helps to minimize the chances of the tooth breaking or becoming infected. Contact a dentist like Hyten David W DMD for additional advice.