Chipped A Crown? Here's What To Do

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If you have a dental crown, your dentist has probably given you lots of useful tips on how to take care of it.

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Unfortunately, while dental crowns are strong, they never last forever. They wear down, chip, and even crack because of regular wear and tear, or biting down on something hard by accident, like a popcorn kernel.

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If you’ve chipped your dental crown, here’s what you need to do:

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Stay Calm and Assess the Damage

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A chipped dental crown isn’t always a sign of concern. While yes, you will need to see the dentist as soon as possible, you might not necessarily have a dental emergency.

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This is why you should inspect the crown and see how damaged it is. Use a mirror to visually assess the damage, or trace your crown with your finger to spot the chip.

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Minor chips can usually be fixed by shaving the crown, while more significant damage might require a new one.

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Call Your Dentist

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Once you assess the damage, contact your dentist and let them know you’ve chipped your crown. The dentist can provide you with more useful tips on how to care for it until you can get to your appointment.

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If the chip isn’t severe but it created a sharp edge, the dentist may recommend adding dental wax to smooth it out until your appointment.

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Eat on the Other Side of Your Mouth

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If you don’t need immediate care, it’s important to avoid damaging the crown further. Remember, your dental crown is designed to protect the natural tooth underneath. A damaged crown cannot fulfill this role, which means your natural tooth may be at risk.

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Chew on the other side of the mouth, and maybe opt for softer foods that break down more easily. This reduces the amount of pressure you’ll put on the damaged crown.

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Don’t Skip Your Appointment

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Maybe a few hours go by, and you notice the chipped crown isn’t such a big deal. It could be tempting to carry on and leave it be, but a damaged crown needs to be restored or replaced.

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Once it is chipped, it’s very easy to crack or even break, which will leave your natural tooth exposed. So don’t skip out on your appointment.

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Get Emergency Dental Care If You Start Experiencing Pain and Swelling

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If you book a regular appointment, but your condition gets worse, don’t wait. Seek emergency dental care right away whenever you’re feeling high levels of pain and swelling to prevent further complications.

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