What is a Crown?
Crowns are fixed prosthetic devices that are cemented onto existing teeth or implants by a dentist or prosthodontist. Crowns are used most commonly to entirely cover a damaged tooth or cover an implant. They are cemented to natural teeth or implants surrounding the space where the tooth once stood.
Benefits of Crowns
- Protection against further decay or erosion
- Improved looking smile
- Helps to hide deformed or unsightly teeth
What to Do if Your Crown Breaks
If your crown breaks, the first thing you should do is call a dentist right away and make an appointment as soon as possible. Even if the break is mild or painless, it’s easy to underestimate the extent of the damage, so the sooner the better. Most times, when the patient is seen, the crown either needs to be replaced or smoothed.
Some times the remainder of the crown is sharp and can irritate or cut the tongue. To prevent additional irritation, try using wax on the sharp area of the crown. Wax for braces or ortho wax can be purchased at any drugstore.
If the underlying tooth is exposed, the tooth can be sensitive to air or cold liquids. That means the pulp inside the tooth is still alive. Although this is uncomfortable and can cause mild pain, nothing irreversable will happen to the tooth in 24 to 48 hours. Teeth do not decay that rapidly so you’ll be fine until you can get in to see a dentist.
If you’ve damaged a crown or think one might need to be replaced, call our office today at (562) 434-6414 to schedule an appointment.
