While dental crowns are designed to remain in place for many years, it is possible for your crown to come off or be knocked loose as a result of an impact. If this happens, you could find yourself dealing with a serious toothache as the underlying tooth is exposed to air and food particles. Thankfully, it is possible for you to temporarily reattach your crown until you are able to get an appointment with your dentist so that the problem can be addressed on a more permanent basis. Continue reading to learn the three steps required to reattach a dental crown on an emergency basis. 

Step 1: Make Sure The Crown Is Clean

It is very important to make sure your dental crown is clean before it is reattached. A failure to do so can result in food being stuck inside your crown. This can lead to the growth of bacteria and ultimately to infection. Before cleaning your crown, you will want to place a towel in your sink so that the crown does not break or wash down the drain if you happen to drop it. Once this towel is in place, use a soft toothbrush to gently scrub both the inside and outside of the crown under warm water. 

Step 2: Thoroughly Brush And Rinse The Underlying Tooth

Just as it is important to make sure your crown is free of plaque and food particles, you will also need to ensure that the underlying tooth is clean. In order to do this, you will want to both brush the tooth using a soft toothbrush and rinse your entire mouth using an antiseptic mouthwash. This is very important in order to ensure that any food particles are dislodged from around the gum line. 

Step 3: Attach Crown Using Temporary Dental Cement 

Now that you have prepped both your crown and your tooth, you will be ready to reattach the crown. This can be done using a temporary dental cement product which can be purchased at most drugstores and supermarkets. Using the tool that comes included with your dental cement, you will want to place a small amount of the adhesive inside the crown. Carefully position the crown over your tooth and bite down slowly until the crown is fully seated on the tooth. If any adhesive oozes out from along the sides of the crown, use a damp cotton swab to remove this excess. 

Talk to your dentist to learn more about dental crowns.