A damaged or broken dental crown is an alarming situation. But that does not mean you can let yourself go on a panic attack because of that. There exist more ways than one to solve this type of issues. Moreover it is even possible providing a temporary solution to the problem at home DIY.
Now let us quickly go through the options you have in fixing your broken or damaged dental crown. The options include –
- Re-cementing the crown
- Bonding the broken piece of dental restoration
- Replacing it with a dental onlay
- Replacing it with a fresh and new crown
- Undergo tooth extraction and get a dental implant to replace the overall tooth
All the options mentioned above boil down to a simple fact. The ultimate thing you got to do when your dental crown is damaged or broken is seeing your dentist. It is important to mention that you must see your dentist immediately when suffering from this condition. Repairing a dental crown is an emergency and requires immediate action.
How crowns get damaged
A dental crown gets damaged usually the same way as your tooth explain dentists who deal with dental crowns in Chelsea over the years. Few real life situations that may result in damaging of your dental crown include –
- Sustaining a blow on the face
- A fistfight
- An accidental fall
- Biting down or chewing on something hard
- Teeth grinding or bruxism
- Normal wear and tear of the dental restoration especially over time
Usually dental crowns are quite durable and easily last for decades and longer. However few factors determine the life of your crowns – like the location in your mouth where a crown is placed. Usually a dental crown easily lasts for ten to fifteen years before it requires a replacement.
Types of crown damage
It is usually irrelevant the type of damage your crown has suffered but still it is important to ascertain whether it can still be repaired or a replacement is necessary. The following types of damages are commonly found on crowns –
- Cracks – A major crack – either vertical or horizontal – on a dental crown is easy to notice.
- Hairline fracture – A very thin crack on the crown surface is usually not noticeable unless one visits a dentist. According to professionals who provide the service of emergency crown repair in London this type of damages is easier to fix in most cases.
- Chip – A tiny or a large chunk of the crown can break off.
- Broken or shattered – A crown may also shatter to pieces.
Handling the problem of a broken crown before seeing your dentist
Usually the problem of a broken crown is not a dental emergency unless ofcourse it has jagged edges on the tooth to make the soft tissues in the tongue and the cheeks vulnerable to cuts and bleeding. If there is no jagged edge, then handling the situation of a broken crown is quite easy until and unless you visit your dentist.
- First you should assess the overall situation and make sure whether the piece of restoration is still on or had fallen off. Stand in front of the mirror for some time and take a close look on the tooth to know the exact situation. Run your finger carefully along the tooth to identify any jagged edge.
- If the crown is not properly attached to the tooth anymore and there is no jagged edge either, in that case you should pull it off. If you leave it in place then you may swallow it accidentally although that will not cause any problem to the internal mechanism of your stomach explain professionals who handle crown repair in Chelsea. The crown will pass off as excreta.
- In the next step rinse the mouth well with lukewarm water to get rid of any tiny fragment of the piece of restoration in the mouth. In case the crown seems remaining intact, you may try reattaching it to the tooth at this stage.
- If you are reattaching it to the tooth, run a light cleaning from both inside and outside using any gentle toothpaste. Brush away any debris attached to it including existing dental cement. Apply a dab of toothpaste of dental cement on the spot or the tooth where the crown will be reattached. Make sure to reattach it carefully so that there is no damage sustained on the tooth or its neighbouring ones.
- In the next step you must call your dentist and report the entire matter in details. At the end of your reporting schedule an appointment with the dentist to get the dental restoration repaired professionally.
Your options in fixing a damaged or broken crown
- Dental bonding – this fast and pain-free solution involves applying a tooth coloured composite resin material to a damaged crown. Then it is moulded to fix the damage and exposed to a special light for fast drying.
- Crown replacement – If your dentist thinks your crown is too badly damaged then they may recommend replacing it with a new one. First the damaged crown is completely removed and only then a new crown is fitted in its place.
Dental onlay – It is also known as partial crown, explain dentists working at the renowned Emergency Dental Clinic Chelsea. This proves a reliable alternative to a fresh and new piece of crown.
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