There is no doubt that a broken dental crown can definitely cause an otherwise nice day to become a really bad one and if it's going to be a day or two until you can see the dentist, it's not going to get any better. Fortunately, there are a few things that you might be able to do in order to minimize the severity of the problem during that time period, but your options will be impacted by the severity and type of damage the crown has sustained. Therefore, it's a good idea to be aware of the information shared below when you need to make the best of a bad dental situation:
Assessing The Severity Of The Damage
It is important to note that since there are a variety of ways that a crown can be broken. Although there is not an ideal way for it to be broken, it's better to see a chip than it is to see a fracture. In addition, a fracture that still permits the crown to remain in one piece is better than one that has broken the crown into two or more pieces.
A chip that has not allowed the crown to separate from the gum might just mean that you need to be careful with what you eat and drink between then and the time you can see your dentist. If the crown has partially or fully detached but is still intact, you may be able to re-attach it, as discussed next.
A fractured crown that has broken down into two or more pieces can usually only be repaired with the use of a new crown provided by your dentist. Unfortunately, over-the-counter products are unlikely to provide the security you need for an impaired dental crown of that type. A damaged tooth or its crown that is not fixed can quickly worsen, with the increased possibility of pain and infections being quite possible.
Determining If You Need To Secure The Crown With Dental Cement
It is often surprising to discover that a low-level, temporary version of the same product your dentist might use to repair the damage can help you get through a few hours or days until you can actually make it into the office can be found in many grocery and drug stores. However, it might not be necessary if the interior of the tooth is primarily intact and clean of debris.
In that instance, you may be able to place it back into its normal area after drying it entirely and bite down very gently to see if it stays in place. If so, you can determine if you want to try it without the cement or if you would prefer to spend the next day or two with the extra security that product will provide.
If you really want to lock an intact crown that has detached from your gum into place, dry the interior and exterior of the tooth before applying a tiny amount of the cement. If it hurts at any time, including before or after your DIY project or if the tooth further degrades, contact your dentist for emergency advice and stop your efforts right away.
In conclusion, in addition to the obvious issue of diminished aesthetic appeal that a broken dental crown can lead to, pain, infection and additional dental concerns might also manifest in a brief period of time. As a result, if you experience a broken crown and your dentist cannot see you right away, the above information will be quite useful.
Contact a dental office like Leidenheimer Dental Group Inc for more information and assistance.
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