There Is No "One Key" To Great Dental Health

Emergency Crown Repair: What To Do When You Can't Get To A Dentist Right Away

While dental crowns are designed to be incredibly durable, it is possible for the adhesive used to keep these crowns in place to fail over time. When this happens, it is important for the crown to be put back in place as quickly as possible in order to avoid an infection in the surrounding gums. Having this procedure completed is quick and easy if your crown happens to fall out while your close to a dentist and are able to schedule an appointment, but what do you do if visiting a dentist in the near future is not a possibility? What do you do if you are away on vacation or in the middle of a special event? Well, the answer is quite simple, you follow the steps below.

Step 1: Clean Your Mouth And The Crown

Before reattaching your crown, you will want to ensure that there is no debris stuck in the crown or in the gum line that may interfere with proper adhesion or cause pain. Ridding both your mouth and crown of plaque and bacteria can also help to prevent an infection that will only complicate the problem further.

In order to effectively clean your mouth and crown, begin by gently brushing your teeth and gum line. Next, rinse your mouth and dental crown with warm salt water in order to flush away any remaining bacteria or debris.

Step 2: Mix A Homemade Adhesive

If you have access to a drugstore, you may wish to buy a temporary dental adhesive. However, if you cannot make a store run or simply do not have the money to purchase these commercial products, it is possible to easily make a temporary adhesive at home with items you probably have on hand.

In order to make an effective adhesive, simply mix together cornstarch and petroleum jelly until it forms a very thick paste. This adhesive will begin to set rather quickly so be sure you are ready to complete the final step before you begin mixing the adhesive.

Step 3: Set Your Crown

Begin by filling your crown with the homemade adhesive you mixed in the previous step. Any excess adhesive will be pushed out of the crown as it is set in place, so go ahead and be generous with the adhesive. It is always better to have too much than too little when trying to secure a dental crown.

Once the crown is filled with adhesive, place the crown back in place and gently bite down. Be aware that your adhesive will not have a very attractive flavor, but this taste will wear off quickly so do your best to grin and bear it.

After just a few minutes, the crown should be set, and you can use a wet cloth to wipe away any remaining adhesive.

A Final Thought

While the process above provides you with a very effective way to deal with emergency crown repairs, this process is not intended to provide a permanent solution. Therefore, you will still need to schedule an appointment with your dentist, like at Willowdaile Family Dentistry, as soon as possible in order to have the crown properly set.


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