Sometimes, fillings or crowns fall out. In some cases, a filling or crown may come loose because there is decay underneath it. The decay destroys part of the tooth, so it no longer has a tight hold on the crown or filling.
A lost filling or crown is rarely an emergency. However, it can be painful because the exposed tooth tissue is often sensitive to temperature, pressure or air. If you lose a crown, put it in a safe place and make an appointment with Birch Dental Practice as soon as possible.
What is left of the tooth will not be as strong as the crown itself. It could be damaged more without the crown to protect it. Also, when a crown is missing for a long time, your teeth may move into the space where the crown was. If this happens, your crown may no longer fit.
In the mean time, before Birch Dental can help put the crown back together, here’s what you can do:
Apply a little clove oil to the sensitive area with a cotton swab. This will give you pain relief. You can buy clove oil in drugstores or in the spice aisles of many supermarkets.
If you’ve lost the filling or crown, you can put over-the-counter dental cement directly on the tooth surface. This will help to protect and seal the area until you’re able to see your dentist.