How healthy are your teeth? Although many people are quick to underestimate their dental health, the fact of the matter is that there are a lot of different elements that play into overall dental wellness. From how often you brush and floss to how regularly you attend regular checkups, it is important to stay in close communication with your dentist, especially if you come down with a new symptom. The purpose of this website is to help people to understand and resolve dental issues, since small symptoms can lead to big problems down the road. Check out these posts to learn more about dental care.
Dental crowns are long-lasting dental solutions, but like all things, nothing lasts forever. When a crown gets older or experiences a large amount of strain, it can crack. If you're worried that yours might be cracked, here's what you should do going forward.
Contact Dentist
The first thing you should do is to make an appointment with a dentist. While this guide will offer solutions to tide you by in the interim, there's no replacement for having your crown completely repaired or replaced by a professional.
When you see your dentist, they'll examine your crown for damage. If it's just cracked, they may be able to repair it. However, if it's broken or the crack is particularly deep or the crown is very old, they may recommend a replacement instead.
Avoid Certain Foods
While you should get to the dentist as soon as possible, there may be a wait. If this is the case, here's what you should do to prevent further damage, pain, and infection from developing.
First off, avoid crunchy and sticky foods. Both of these can further damage the crown, and in the case of sticky food, it can pull off part or all of the crown. These types of foods can also get stuck inside the crack, where it could pose the risk of infection.
When eating, do your best to avoid chewing on the side that has the crack. This may help to reduce the risk of further damage.
Dental Cement
Another thing you can do is to head to the pharmacy or grocery store for some consumer-level dental cement. This product isn't as strong as what your dentist will use, but it can be used to temporarily seal up cracks in dental crowns or to re-adhere one if it's popped off.
To use the dental cement, follow the directions on the package. However, in most cases, all you need to do is to apply a little to the crown itself, allow it to dry, and then you can go back to your daily routine. Keep in mind that this isn't a permanent fix, but it can be quite helpful.
Dental crowns are designed to last for many years, but periodically they may need to be replaced. Make sure to ask your dentist to check any other crowns you may have that could be in need of replacing too. This can allow you to get ahead of any possible issues before they become major problems.