Crowns and bridges are two of the most common methods used to restore missing or broken teeth. With proper care, a crown or bridge can last anywhere from 5-10 years or longer, but there is also a possibility that your restorative appliances could become dislodged, broken, or fall out. Whether it’s from chewing, from trauma, or another cause, a missing crown or bridge is absolutely a dental emergency and you need to get it taken care of as soon as possible.

Here are a few tips from the team at ZDental about what you can do if your crown or bridge falls out, and how to care for your mouth until you can get to a dentist.

Restorative Dentistry: How Does it Work?

When you get a crown on a damaged tooth, your dentist will grind away a portion of the tooth’s exterior surface so that the appliance can be attached. Once the tooth is prepared, the crown will be attached using a powerful adhesive. Bridges work the same way, except they are used to replace multiple teeth located right next to one another. In the case of a bridge, healthy teeth on either side of the gap will serve as the anchor points for the appliance.

Because the exterior surfaces of your teeth need to be ground down to attach a crown or bridge, they are extremely vulnerable when appliances fall out. If you don’t get the appliance reset quickly, you could end up losing that tooth for good.

Lost A Crown or Bridge? Make a Dental Appointment Right Away

When a restorative appliance like a crown or bridge falls out, step one is to contact your dentist and make an appointment as soon as possible. If you were able to locate the appliance, hang onto it and be sure to bring it with you to your appointment. If it’s in good shape, your dentist should be able to reset it with no problem. Even if the appliance is damaged, your dentist will want to inspect it and find out what happened. If you swallowed the appliance, don’t worry; you should be able to pass it without any harm.

While you wait for your dental appointment, it’s important to keep the area clean to prevent any damage to the underlying tooth and root. If you still have the appliance, you may be able to apply denture adhesive and temporarily reset it. If you lost or swallowed the appliance, denture adhesive can be used to cover the exposed tooth and protect it. Just be sure to use denture adhesive, as other adhesives may be harmful or interfere with your dentist’s ability to reset the appliance.

If you are a resident of the Philadelphia area or New Jersey, ZDental has 5 different locations in the area for your convenience. As we mentioned earlier, a loose or missing dental crown in Philadelphia is a dental emergency that needs to be taken care of immediately. We offer emergency dental services for these situations, so visit our contact page and find the location nearest you to make an appointment. A lost crown or bridge is no small matter, but ZDental can help you get it taken care of before it becomes a problem.