Loose Crown Solutions / Tips

While dental appliances are created to last as long as possible, there are times when they become damaged. There are also scenarios in which the tooth that is holding the appliance in place becomes decayed or damaged—causing the appliance to become loose or detach entirely from the tooth. If you have a dental crown that has become loose, you’ll want to make sure that the crown is repaired as soon as possible—and you’ll want to make sure to care for the healthy tooth until then.

Reasons for a Loose Crown

There are different reasons for a loose crown, or for the crown to fall out completely. These include:

• Grinding or clenching your teeth at night.
• Damage caused by an accident.
• Tooth decay.
• Natural wearing away of the crown over time.
• Consumption of food that is damaging to the crown.

In order to ensure the safety of a replacement (if your dentist chooses to place one), the reason for the loose crown needs to be addressed. For instance, if the loose crown is caused by grinding or clenching of your teeth at night, you need to speak with your dentist about treatment options, such as a night guard. If the damage is caused by an accident or consuming foods that have damaged the tooth, you’ll need to simply take better care of the appliance in the future to avoid another loose crown.

Treating a Loose Crown

There is a possibility that your loose crown is still in place, but it isn’t as secure as it needs to be. The first step to handle a loose crown that hasn’t fallen out yet is to set an appointment with your dentist to have the crown properly secured in place. Until the appointment, make sure to avoid touching the loose crown, and eat with a different part of the mouth.

Even though you may be able to avoid your loose crown falling out completely, you’ll still want to schedule an immediate appointment. This may mean contacting an emergency dentist for an emergency procedure. Don’t wait until the crown falls out if you are able to save it early on.

How to Treat a Loose Crown That Has Fallen Out

If your loose crown has fallen out, you’ll want to cement the crown back in place with dental cement until you can visit the dentist to have the loose crown properly repaired. Temporary dental cement can be obtained by speaking with your dentist’s office. From there, you’ll need to make sure to properly clean the tooth. There should be no debris when you place the cement and secure the crown back in place. Place the cement inside of the crown, and then reset the crown. If you have any questions about gluing the crown back on to the tooth, speak with your dentist for more detailed instructions.

What If I Swallow a Loose Crown?

If a loose crown falls off and you are unable to remove it before you swallow it, don’t panic. You can recover the crown by inducing vomiting. While the crown may be a choking hazard, if it has passed your throat and gone into your stomach, it shouldn’t cause any major issues.

Avoiding a Loose Crown

In order to avoid a loose crown in the first place, there are certain forms of care that you can practice. The first and easiest is to take proper care of your overall oral health. This includes brushing, flossing and rinsing twice a day, each and every day. This also means regular trips to your dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning. During this checkup, your dentist will take a look at any appliances (such as a dental crown) and can ensure the health of these appliances. Your dentist can also check the underlying tooth to ensure that it is healthy.

It’s also important to keep the appliance safe during sports. Use a mouth guard to help with the proper care of your teeth. You also may need a different kind of mouth guard provided by your dentist to treat bruxism (teeth grinding). Make sure to avoid eating foods that can damage the crown as well to ensure that you do not develop a loose crown.

Speak with Your Dentist

If you have a loose crown or you have any other damage to your dental crown, make sure to speak with your dentist and set an appointment for as soon as possible to ensure the health of the appliance.