If you have a tooth that is vulnerable or has already experienced dental harm, your dentist may recommend restorative treatment with a dental crown. These ceramic caps cover an affected tooth and shield it from external threats.
Though crowns are durable, they are not indestructible and require professional intervention if they fall off or break. The dental team at Brighter Smile Family Dentistry and Orthodontics, a dental practice in Sterling, VA, outlines three steps you can take if you sustain damage to your dental crowns.
Call Your Dental Professional Promptly
When your dentist secures a dental crown over your tooth, they must remove part of your enamel to make room for the cap. Thinned enamel exposes underlying dentin, which contains nerves that cause tooth sensitivity pain if stimulated.
A dislodged or broken dental crown means that this dentin is open to stimulation and can cause you pain. Even if you consider this tooth pain tolerable, you should contact your dentist as soon as possible for an oral evaluation. Tooth pain could also point to a larger dental concern.
Attend Emergency Dentist Appointment
Your dentist will likely schedule you for a prompt emergency dentist appointment when you let them know that your dental crown has suffered damage. During the exam in their office, they will check that there is no additional harm to the vulnerable tooth or any other part of your mouth.
If the crown is intact, the dentist will reattach it to the affected tooth. Your dentist can provide you with a temporary crown if a new permanent crown must be constructed.
Prevent Further Dental Crown Damage
Dental crowns are designed to withstand the everyday wear and tear that your teeth experience. However, they can break or dislodge if under abnormally high amounts of pressure.
For this reason, you should avoid biting down on hard items such as the end of a pen, ice, or fingernails. You should also let your dentist know if you have a habit of grinding or clenching your teeth. They may recommend that you wear a mouthguard while you sleep for added protection for your crown from this behavior.
Repair dental crowns and more in Sterling, VA at Brighter Smile Family Dentistry and Orthodontics.