A lost temporary crown or filling leaves your tooth exposed and vulnerable, which can lead to sensitivity, pain, and further damage. If this happens to you, here’s what you should do right away:
- Contact Our Office Immediately: Call Smiles By Eddie in Woodland Hills as soon as possible. Explain your situation. We prioritize dental emergencies and will strive to see you quickly.
- Retrieve the Restoration: If your temporary crown or filling has come out, try to carefully retrieve it if possible. Gently rinse it with water.
- Clean Your Mouth: Rinse your mouth gently with warm water to clean the area.
- Manage Discomfort: If you experience sensitivity or pain, avoid hot, cold, sweet, or acidic foods and drinks. Over-the-counter pain relievers (like ibuprofen) can help manage discomfort.
- Protect the Tooth/Crown:
- For a lost temporary crown: You can try to temporarily re-seat it using a small dab of dental adhesive (found in pharmacies) or even a tiny amount of toothpaste or sugar-free gum to hold it in place until you reach our office. Ensure it feels stable and doesn’t interfere with your bite.
- For a lost filling: You can temporarily plug the hole with a small piece of sugar-free gum or dental wax to protect the tooth from sensitivity and food particles.
- Avoid Chewing on the Affected Side: Do your best to avoid biting down on the compromised tooth until you can see me.
Remember: Don’t delay! Even if you’re not in pain, a lost temporary crown or filling leaves your tooth unprotected and prone to further damage or infection.
A temporary crown serves as a crucial placeholder while your permanent crown is being meticulously crafted in a dental laboratory. It protects the prepared tooth, maintains the space, and allows you to chew and speak relatively normally.
Why Temporary Crowns Might Fall Off: Temporary crowns are designed to be easily removable by your dentist. Sometimes, chewing on sticky or hard foods, or even forceful brushing, can dislodge them.
Why Urgent Repair is Necessary:
- Exposure of Prepared Tooth: The tooth underneath a temporary crown has been shaped and is often sensitive and vulnerable to extreme temperatures.
- Risk of Damage: The prepared tooth is weaker and more susceptible to fracture or chipping without the temporary crown’s protection.
- Shifting Teeth: Without the temporary crown, adjacent teeth can shift, potentially causing your permanent crown not to fit properly when it arrives.
- Infection Risk: The prepared tooth can be exposed to bacteria, increasing the risk of infection or decay.
My priority for temporary crown repair in Woodland Hills is to quickly re-cement or replace your temporary crown, ensuring your comfort and protecting your tooth until your permanent crown is ready.
Fillings are designed to restore teeth that have been damaged by decay or fracture. When an old filling falls out or becomes damaged, it leaves a direct opening to the sensitive inner layers of your tooth.
Why Fillings Might Fall Out or Damage: Over time, fillings can wear down, crack, or become dislodged due to chewing forces, new decay forming around the edges, or age.
Why Urgent Repair is Necessary:
- Immediate Sensitivity & Pain: Losing a filling exposes the dentin (the layer beneath enamel) or even the pulp (nerve), leading to severe sensitivity to hot, cold, sweet, or pressure.
- Risk of Further Decay: The open cavity is a perfect trap for food particles and bacteria, significantly increasing the risk of new decay or worsening existing decay.
- Tooth Fracture: The tooth’s remaining structure around the lost filling is weakened and highly susceptible to fracturing when you bite down.
- Bite Problems: A missing filling can alter your bite, putting undue stress on other teeth or leading to jaw discomfort.
For emergency filling repair in Woodland Hills, I will quickly assess the situation and provide a solution to seal and protect your tooth, alleviating pain and preventing further damage.
DR. EDMOND
AHDOOT
When a dental emergency strikes, you need a dentist who is responsive, skilled, and genuinely caring. Here’s why patients in Woodland Hills, CA, and the wider San Fernando Valley, trust Smiles By Eddie for their emergency temporary crown and filling repairs:
- Prompt Emergency Response: We understand the urgency. We prioritize dental emergencies and strive to get you seen as quickly as possible to address your discomfort and protect your tooth.
- Experienced & Gentle Care: I have extensive experience in handling various dental emergencies. My team and I provide precise, gentle care, ensuring your comfort even during stressful situations.
- Focus on Tooth Preservation: Our primary goal is always to protect your tooth from further damage and infection, keeping it healthy until a permanent solution can be provided.
- Comprehensive Solutions: Whether it’s a quick re-cement or a new temporary fabrication, we have the tools and expertise to address your immediate needs effectively.
- State-of-the-Art Facility: Our Woodland Hills dental office is equipped with modern technology, allowing for efficient diagnosis and high-quality emergency repairs.
- Trusted Local Emergency Dentist: We are conveniently located and a reliable resource for urgent dental care in Woodland Hills, ready to support you when you need us most.
