Temporary crowns offer an effective way to protect sensitive areas of your mouth while the permanent crown is still being developed. However, it’s also quite common for many users to experience a situation where their temporary crown fell out. Our article is going to help teach you what to do in this situation and offer some basic advice on how to prevent it from happening again.
What Is A Temporary Crown?
The first thing we are going to focus on is defining what a temporary crown is, and focusing on the primary differences between it and a permanent crown. For starters, a temporary crown is typically placed on your first or second visit to the dentist.
The steps your dentist will take before installing your temporary crown primarily focus on restoring the health of the treated area by ensuring there are no residual signs of tooth decay or gum disease. Your dentist will also likely file down the treated area to make room for the crown and ensure the bonding site is adequately secured.
Once this is accomplished, your dentist will then take measurements and images of the area and send those off to a special laboratory. That laboratory will then start working on designing your personalized permanent crown. In the meantime, your dentist will work on installing your temporary crown.
A temporary crown is a specialized cover that is designed to protect the underlying gum issue and improve the overall aesthetic appearance of the treatment area. It’s typically made from a plastic composite and is meant to be used for a period of several weeks. Permanent crowns are typically made from porcelain, metal, or a combination of both.
Another key difference between temporary and permanent crowns is in the type of bonding agent that is used. For permanent crowns, the bonding agent is much stronger and can last for a period of 10 to 15 years.
What Happens If Temporary Crown Falls Off?
Now that you understand a few of the differences between a temporary and permanent crown, let’s focus on what happens if a temporary crown fell out. One of the biggest issues associated with this happening is that you’re exposing the sensitive gum area to a wide range of potentially harmful situations.
From rough food edges to cold and hot temperatures, these types of hazards can cause an immense amount of pain to the exposed gum and root area. In addition, it’s quite easy to tear the gum tissue and possibly cause infection as well. This is partly due to the filing that your dentist did on your initial visit that likely left openings that are prone to infection.
Either way, it’s important that you address your temporary crown falling out as quickly and effectively as possible. In some cases, you may be able to resolve this issue at home. Our next section is going to walk you through the basic steps to resolve this issue, including how to put temporary crown back on.
What to Do If My Temporary Crown Falls Off?
1. Retrieve The Crown
The first and most important step to take if your temporary crown fell out is to retrieve it. Try to avoid swallowing it at all cost. If you did swallow it, do not stress out yet. In most cases, temporary crowns are designed to be passed harmlessly through your digestive tract. If you are able to retrieve it, rinse it under clean running water and pat it dry to more closely inspect it.
2. Inspect The Crown and Your Tooth
Now that you have retrieved your temporary crown, it’s time to visually inspect it. Look closely to see if any of your permanent tooth structure is still attached. You should also take note to ensure that the crown is fully intact as well. Next, inspect the area of your mouth where the temporary crown was bonded.
Some things to look out for include bleeding, missing tooth surface, and any remaining temporary crown that may be present. Once you have taken these issues into account, it’s time to move onto the next step.
3. Call Your Dentist
The next step is to contact your dentist as soon as possible. Inform them of your situation and answer any questions that they may have. They will likely ask about how intact the crown is and will want to get a rough idea of how the treatment area is holding up.
Depending on your situation, your dentist may recommend that you visit their office for a quick look at the area and to receive a new temporary crown. If this is the case, follow your dentist’s recommendations and schedule an appointment as soon as possible to have the issue resolved. For more minor issues, the dentist may recommend an over the counter dental adhesive instead.
4. Reapply The Crown Yourself
As long as your dentist has given you the go ahead, you can likely reattach the temporary crown yourself using an over the counter dental adhesive. Dentemp is a very common brand. When in doubt, ask your dentist for any product recommendations that they may have.
Make sure to carefully follow the manufacturer’s directions. In most cases, you should carefully dry the area to remove excess saliva. Using the included tool, you apply a liberal amount of the bonding paste to the bottom of the crown and gently press it down to the desired area. Most dental adhesives have a bonding time of 30 minutes to an hour. During this time, you cannot eat or drink anything.
Preventing a Future Occurrence
One of the most important things to remember if your temporary crown fell out is that it can usually be prevented. For starters, there is a wide range of foods that you should avoid when you have a temporary crown.
Your dentist will likely review all of these with you during your initial consultation. Some common examples include sticky foods like chewing gum and taffy. They may also recommend avoiding foods that are too hot or too cold. An added benefit to avoiding foods that reach extreme temperatures is that it often helps prevent tooth sensitivity in the treatment area as well.
Careful brushing and flossing habits are another key part of preventing your temporary crown from falling out. While it may be tempting to brush with increased vigor to keep the area clean, it’s best to use soft and gentle strokes to avoid loosening the bonding agent under your temporary crown.
Conclusion
If your temporary crown fell out, try to stay calm and to follow the tips outlined in our guide. It’s quite common for these types of temporary dental appliances to come loose. Just remember to follow your dentist’s recommendations to ensure you get the best results possible from both your temporary and permanent crown. If you have any tips you would like to share about what to do if your temporary crown fell out, feel free to post them in the comments area.
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