Whether it’s a baby tooth that just had a rough start or a permanent tooth that wasn’t properly cared for, a dental crown is a second chance for decayed or injured teeth. Without this porcelain prosthetic, their tooth would have to be removed entirely when most of it is still salvageable. But what happens if your child’s dental crown comes out? What steps should you follow? Read on to find out!
Don’t Panic!
A dental injury of any kind can present a scary and surprising result, but the most urgent and serious emergency situation has to be a knocked-out tooth. A crown that comes off doesn’t necessarily mean your child’s smile is ruined forever!
This scenario happens with both adults and kids, and it’s usually simple to resolve. If you worry or get upset, so will your child, and no one needs stress and anxiety like that!
Find the Dental Crown
Next, you need to locate the prosthetic. If your child has accidentally swallowed the porcelain, don’t be too concerned; it should work its way through their system safely. Once you find the crown, wash your hands and please pick it up carefully.
Call Your Pediatric Dentist Right Away
Although a knocked-out tooth comes with a more specific expiration time, it’s still important to take care of your child’s lost crown quickly. Without this protection, the tooth underneath is vulnerable to bacteria and infection. Call the pediatric dentist for an appointment as soon as possible to ensure that the tooth avoids getting decay.
Gently Rinse the Crown Off
Chances are, when your child’s crown hit the floor or counter, it came into contact with bacteria—microscopic creatures that can not only harm your smile but the rest of your immune system as well. When you have the crown in hand, turn on the tap water to a medium heat and run the water over the crown to rinse away these bacteria and keep the crown, particularly the interior, clean.
Put the Crown Back over the Tooth
While you wait for the next available appointment, you can guard the tooth against oral bacteria by covering it again with the crown, assuming it isn’t too badly damaged. To keep it in place, do not use superglue or any other adhesives that aren’t meant for the oral cavity. You can simply put a small dab of toothpaste in the middle of the crown and position it back on the tooth. This temporary solution can allow them to carry on with the day until the pediatric dentist can see your child.
Bring the Crown with You to the Office
Note that the pediatric dentist may not always be able to save or reuse the original crown. If it, however, is relatively new and undamaged, your child may simply need to have the prosthetic tooth recemented to the tooth. Also, perhaps the crown can indicate what went wrong and what you might do to prevent it from happening again.
Whether their crown comes out while your child munches on a crisp apple, falls at the playground, or plays sports, if you stick to these steps, you can get your child’s smile back to full health and confidence again!
About the Practice
Wash Park Pediatric Dentistry is located in Denver, CO, and is led by two board-certified dentists: Dr. Patrick Bowman and Dr. Kathleen Waguespack. As specialists in childhood dentistry, they can address several issues, including emergency care, dental crowns, pulpotomy, regular dental cleanings and checkups, and more! Call 720-647-6310 or contact us online today to make your appointment.