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Missing Crowns and Fillings

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There are many possible causes of missing crowns and fillings, including:

• Decay or cavities: If you have decay or cavities in your teeth, this can cause the crown or filling to become loose and eventually fall out.
• Teeth grinding (bruxism): When you grind your teeth, the constant force can damage the dental restoration, causing it to become loose or fall out entirely.
• Poor oral hygiene: When you don’t brush and floss your teeth as often as recommended, tartar and plaque may form on your teeth. It can lead to tooth decay and cause your crown or filling to fall out.
• Wear and tear: Your teeth can wear down over time, causing crowns and fillings to come out.
• Injury Trauma to the mouth: Injury to the mouth can also lead to the loss of a crown or filling; if you suffer a blow to the face, the impact force could dislodge or break a dental prosthetic.

If you think you may have a missing crown or filling, there are a few things to look out for, including:

• Pain when chewing: If you experience pain when chewing, this can be caused by anything from a small chip in the tooth to a large cavity.
• Visible damage to the tooth: If you notice a small crack in the enamel to a large hole in the tooth where your filling or crown was.
• Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures: If your teeth are exceptionally sensitive to temperature fluctuations, it might indicate that you have a cavity or other damage to the tooth enamel.

If you lost a tooth filling or dental crowns, taking care of the issue as soon as possible is important to avoid further damage to your natural teeth. Here are some tips on how to manage missing crowns and lost tooth fillings at home:

• If you lose a filling style=”font-weight: 400;”>, try to find it and bring it with you to your next dentist appointment. In the meantime, you can cover the area with a sugarless gum if possible to protect it from bacteria. 
• If a crown comes loose, in the meantime, you can cover the exposed or broken tooth with temporary cement or sugarless gum. If this doesn’t work, bring the crown to your next dentist appointment.
• If you have any pain or discomfort, be sure to take over-the-counter pain medication and see your dentist as soon as possible.

If you don’t have your crowns or fillings replaced, you may experience problems with your teeth, including:

• Your tooth could become more damaged; if your crown or filling falls out, your tooth becomes more susceptible to decay. Bacteria and plaque can build up in the space and cause further damage to your tooth. You might eventually need a root canal treatment or even extraction.
• The surrounding teeth can be affected: as the force from chewing is redistributed. It can cause those teeth to loosen, shift, or even be lost.
• You may experience pain and discomfort; as the tooth tissue is exposed and your tooth starts to shift.
• Damage to tooth structure; If a crown or filling is not replaced, the tooth can become weak and brittle. The tooth may also change shape, affecting your bite and making it difficult to chew.

With proper care, your crowns and fillings should last for many years. Follow these steps to help prolong their life:

• Brush and floss regularly. It will help reduce plaque and bacteria from your teeth, lowering your risk of decay.
• Avoid chewing on hard objects and sticky foods. It can loosen or pull out a crown or filling. Be careful with hard, sticky, chewy foods like caramels, taffy, gum, and hard candy.
• See your dentist’s regular dental appointment: It’s important to see your dentist regularly so they can check your teeth’s condition, maintain your good oral health, and identify any potential dental issues early on.
• Suppose you have any existing dental problems. Such as tooth decay or gum disease, get them managed immediately.
• Occlusal Splint: If you grind your teeth, we suggest that you use an occlusal splint (night guard) to protect your fillings and crowns from excessive stress.