If you’ve ever had a tooth that was badly damaged, severely decayed, or needed a root canal, there’s a good chance you were fitted with a dental crown. A crown is a custom-made cap that fits over a damaged tooth, restoring its shape, size, and function. It sits right in line with your other teeth, looks completely natural, and once it’s in place, you mostly forget it’s there.
Depending on the material (porcelain, ceramic, metal, or a combination), a well-placed crown can last on average up to 15 years. However, age, wear, grinding your teeth at night, biting into hard foods, and other factors can compromise a crown over time, leading to loosening. Once a crown loosens, a sticky candy or piece of meat could completely dislodge it.
Without a crown, the tooth underneath is exposed to bacteria, temperature sensitivity, and the pressure of chewing. The longer it stays unprotected, the greater the risk of further damage, infection, or decay.
If you’re in that situation right now, or if you’re unsure whether what you’re feeling in your mouth is a loose crown, LivWell Dentistry in San Francisco and San Ramon is the place to go. Dr. Wenli Loo and Dr. Steve Deng have the experience and expertise to protect your tooth and properly restore your crown.
Here, they explain what commonly causes a crown to fail, what you should do the moment it happens, how the replacement process works, and a few things you can do to help your next crown last as long as possible.
Losing a crown can be alarming, especially if it happens while you’re eating and you aren’t immediately sure what just fell out. The first thing to remember is to stay calm. Although a lost crown needs attention, it is not a dental emergency like a knocked-out tooth.
If you have the crown, hold onto it. Rinse it gently under cool water and keep it safe, such as in a small plastic bag with a zip closure or a clean container. Do not try to glue it back yourself using regular adhesive. Household adhesives are toxic, can damage the crown, and can make it much harder for us to properly re-cement it.
The exposed tooth underneath will likely feel sensitive, particularly to hot and cold temperatures. Avoid chewing on that side of your mouth if you can, and be mindful of very hot or very cold foods and drinks. If the area is sore or the exposed tooth is uncomfortable, over-the-counter pain relievers can help.
When you come in after losing a crown, we examine the tooth underneath, check for new decay or damage, and decide whether the original crown can be reused or a new one is needed.
If the crown came out cleanly, the tooth underneath is in good shape, and the crown itself is intact and undamaged, there’s a chance it can be re-cemented. We’ll clean both the crown and the tooth, make sure everything fits properly, and bond it back into place.
If the crown is cracked, broken, or no longer fits correctly, then a new crown will need to be made. This process involves reshaping the tooth (if needed), taking impressions or digital scans, and sending that information to a dental lab where your new crown will be custom-made.
In the interim, we’ll place a temporary crown to protect your tooth. Once the permanent crown is ready, you’ll come back for a second visit to have it cemented in place.
Brushing twice a day and flossing daily helps prevent decay at the crown margin, which can undermine the tooth over time. When flossing, slide the floss to the side rather than snapping it upward, which could pull on the crown’s edge.
You don’t have to give up on your favorite foods, but be mindful around very sticky or very hard items. Things like ice chewing, nail biting, or using your teeth to open packaging are bad habits that put unnecessary stress on your teeth and crowns.
If you know or suspect that you grind your teeth at night, talk to your dentist about a night guard. A custom-fitted night guard creates a protective barrier between your upper and lower teeth, reducing stress on your crowns while you sleep.
And finally, regular dental check-ups. Going in twice a year gives us the chance to spot any early signs of crown loosening, margin decay, or other issues. Schedule an appointment with us online or call us at 415-477-3700 today, whether your crown has fallen out or you’re experiencing pain, sensitivity, or a sense that something isn’t right in your mouth.
