What to do About a Cracked or Missing Crown

So, your crown’s cracked or gone. Not ideal. Whether it popped off during a popcorn binge or just gave up mid-floss, here’s the deal: don’t ignore it. A busted crown can alter your smile, bite, quality of life — and bank account. Here’s what to do next.

Dental crowns are tooth-like dental caps that bond over the top of a natural tooth or replace missing teeth (anchored by dental implants). Dental crowns are often used for teeth that are cracked, chipped, broken, stained, decayed, misshapen, too small, or worn down.

While some crowns last a lifetime, they may also go missing or become damaged. See the dental experts at SuperTooth™, with offices in Bethesda, Gaithersburg, and Germantown, Maryland, at the first sign of a broken or fallen-off dental restoration.

Reasons dental crowns may break

Dental crowns available at Supertooth are highly durable and long-lasting, but once in a while, a crown breaks, cracks, loosens, or falls off entirely. Reasons this can happen include:

Falls
Blows to the face
Other forms of trauma to the mouth
Biting down on something hard or sticky
Teeth grinding
Dental decay
Wear-and-tear over time

When cared for properly, crowns may last 15 years. However, replacing a crown after signs of significant wear helps prevent cracked and missing dental restorations.

Caring for a cracked or missing crown

Contact the experts at Supertooth at the first sign of a missing or damaged crown. If you still have a fallen-off crown or pieces of a broken crown, bring them with you to your dental appointment. If a crown becomes loose and you’re afraid you might swallow it, ask the Supertooth dental specialists if you should gently pull it off your tooth.

Apply pressure to the area if you notice any bleeding, rinse your mouth with warm salty water, and keep the affected tooth clean. Apply a cold compress if your mouth is sore and avoid chewing on hard objects. Opt for soft, non-sticky foods instead.

Your dentist might be able to repair a cracked or broken dental crown, depending on the severity of the damage. They can fix minor flaws by bonding, reshaping, and smoothing the affected crown.

However, if a dental crown is severely damaged or lost, your dentist may have to make you a new one as a replacement.

Reducing the risk of crown damage

You can’t always avoid damage to crowns, bridges, dentures, and other dental restorations — especially in the case of accidents and trauma. However, taking a few precautions can significantly lessen your risk of a cracked, broken, or missing crown.

For example, avoid opening packages and bottles with your teeth, don’t chew on ice or other hard objects, and ask the Supertooth experts if you’re a candidate for wearing a night guard during sleep to lessen crown damage caused by jaw clenching and teeth grinding. See your dentist routinely for professional teeth cleanings and dental exams.

At the first sign of a damaged or fallen-off crown, contact us today at Supertooth by calling our office or requesting an appointment online.