The spread of COVID-19 continues to affect us all. With the uncertainty of what is yet to come as a result of this pandemic, we continue to monitor the situation and remain focused on the health and safety of the patients we love, our dedicated staff, our community, and our families.
In accordance with the latest recommendations from the ADA (Australian Dental Association), and to make sure we are doing our part to prevent unnecessary exposure to our patients and staff ads well as the further spread of the virus, we will be deferring all routine dental treatments and restricting appointments to urgent treatment and emergencies only.
In this post, we’ll address a common patient concern of a crown that has fallen off.
When a crown falls off, it doesn’t need to be a disaster. If it’s not damaged, it can easily be reattached at your dentist’s office. You should come in as soon as possible for this simple process. However, you can start with some tips to keep your crown in good condition:
- Before you touch the crown, wash your hands thoroughly. You don’t want to introduce bacteria into your mouth. Rinse your hands to remove all traces of soap. If your hands are slippery, you could drop or lose the crown.
- You’ll have the best results if the crown is clean. If you have antiseptic mouthwash, pour a small amount into a clean glass and allow the crown to soak for around one minute. If you don’t have mouthwash, you can use fresh water. You can rinse the crown under running water, but make sure to hold it tightly. Crowns are small and slippery, and you don’t want to risk losing it.
- Try to replace the crown. Don’t be upset if this is too difficult. It can be especially difficult if the crown was in the back of your mouth.
- A small amount of sugar free gum can work as a temporary adhesive. Place the gum inside the crown before you fit the crown onto your tooth.
- Take special care if the crown is very loose. You don’t want to risk swallowing it. Don’t eat, drink, or smoke until the crown has been reattached by a dental professional.
These tips are helpful, but they’re only meant to be temporary. At TLC Dental, we’re only a phone call away. You can call Dr Hoffenberg and our team at (02) 8599 7107 to let us know you have a dental emergency. We’ll be ready to meet you when you arrive at our office, and you can leave with a beautiful, healthy smile.