A damaged or broken tooth may require restorative dental treatment with a dental crown. This ceramic cap fits over an affected tooth and seals into place with bonding for long-lasting protection.
Though they are durable, a crown could fall out of place or break if exposed to abnormally high amounts of pressure. Dr. R. Edward Hudgens III, a dentist in Charleston, SC, outlines actions you can take if you sustain damage to your dental crown.
In order to secure a dental crown over your tooth, your dentist shaves away a small amount of enamel to make room for the cap. If the crown dislodges or breaks, the underlying layer of dentin becomes exposed, leaving you at risk of painful tooth sensitivity.
The damaged tooth could be vulnerable to additional damage without the protection of the crown. Though you might consider sensitivity pain to be tolerable, you should still contact your dentist as soon as possible to schedule an emergency dentist appointment.
If your dental crown has fallen out, you should bring it with you to your emergency dentist appointment. When you arrive, your dentist will examine your entire mouth to check for signs of additional damage to your smile.
The dentist will then place and secure the crown back over your tooth if the crown remains intact. They can provide you with a temporary crown if you require a new permanent crown to be constructed.
Once your crown is restored, you will want to avoid future accidents that could harm your dental work or your smile. For this reason, you should not bite down on hard objects, including fingernails, the end of a pen, or ice.
You should also talk to your dental professional if you have a habit of grinding or clenching your teeth. They may suggest that you wear a mouthguard at night to protect your crown from damage that may occur from unconscious grinding during sleep.
Dr. Hudgens offers dental crown procedures as well as emergency dentistry to patients in Charleston, SC. Our practice specializes in cosmetic, restorative, and general dentistry for patients of all ages. To schedule an appointment with us, contact our office online or reach us by phone at 843.418.9354.