So, if you’re anything like me, you like to roughhouse and wrestle with your kids. Oh my goodness, my crown just fell out. What do I do?
Immediate Steps to Take
One of the things we do a lot, and we see it at least once or twice a week, is speak with a patient who will call in a panic because their tooth has fallen out. The majority of the time, that just means the crown has fallen out, but when you’re panicked and scared, all of a sudden, your mouth doesn’t look the same. You might be in pain, you might be embarrassed, and you’re holding your crown in your hand without knowing what to do.
Give us a call. We always get those patients in right away. We sit down, take a look, and figure out the best plan of action.
Common Causes of Crown Loss
Worn-Out Cement Layer
Typically, when a crown comes out, it’s due to one of two reasons: either the cement layer that has bonded the crown in place has failed over time, or there is an issue with the underlying tooth.
We have many patients who got crowns 40 or 50 years ago that are still doing great, but sometimes the crown can come out. They’re typically not in pain, and the tooth underneath is healthy, but the crown is in their hand. If the cement layer has worn away, we clean everything up. If there’s no decay and the crown fits, we just put a new layer of cement, put it back in, and hope for another 30, 40, or 50 years. It’s very straightforward and non-invasive.
Tooth Damage or Decay
Occasionally, when the crown comes out, the tooth is actually broken. If the tooth is broken or has decay where the crown no longer fits, the process of restoring it is more involved.
Modifying the Tooth
We can’t just put the crown back on because the underlying tooth is not healthy enough to support it. At that point, it becomes necessary to modify the tooth by removing the unhealthy structure and making a new crown. Often, this can be done in a same-day crown appointment, which takes about an hour and a half, allowing you to leave with a new crown that protects the tooth and blends in with the rest of your teeth.
More Involved Procedures
If the situation is more complex, such as requiring extraction or a root canal, we have the capability to handle all these services in-house with our talented team of doctors.
Conclusion
So if you’re wrestling with your dogs, and they bonk you in the chin, and suddenly you’ve got a tooth in your hand, give us a call. Don’t panic; we’ll get you right in and find a solution no matter where you are. Whether you’re in New York, LA, Macon, Brookhaven, or anywhere across the country, give us a call. We’ll walk you through your options and get you taken care of.
I’m Dr. Brett Langston. I’m a prosthodontist and the owner of Dental Implant and Aesthetic Specialist located in Brookhaven, Georgia, and we’re here to help you watch your mouth.
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