On Sat, 25 Dec 2010 00:18:36 -0600, Sqwertz >
wrote:

>On Fri, 24 Dec 2010 23:54:39 -0500, Lil Abner wrote:
>
>> On 12/24/2010 11:04 PM, Cheryl wrote:
>>> Christmas eve, and no real time to do anything about this. I just lost a > crown on one of my teeth. How do these things fall off?
>>>
>>> I have a dentist appt on Monday for ortho so I might have to wait until
>>> then. I can already feel the cold breath on the exposed tooth. shit.
>> If you have the crown clean and dry the tooth and have someone help you
>> push it back on. Monday the Dentist can clean and reglue it or do
>> whatever is necceaary. Just a thought. No expertise involved.
>> Merry Christmas.
>
>Don't put it back in. You might swallow it while eating. While it
>will survive the stomach-intestinal route, and unless you're
>*really* desperate, you'd have to get refitted/remade which would
>cost a lot more.
>
>I've swallowed a temp cap. I don't know exactly when, but I
>noticed it was missing right as I was finishing dinner. The
>dentist says it happens "more than you'd think".
>
>Just chew on the other side of your mouth.


Exactly correct. Do not try to stick the old crown back on... it can
be swallowed and/or bitten down on causing damage to other teeth. Most
times a crown falls off because it cracked (or the tooth is
cracked/eroded and may require a post/implant) but if still in sound
condition it can be reused as a replacement saving lots of time and
money... most times if the tooth and crown are sound your regular
dentist will do what needs doing to prep the surfaces and cement the
crown back no charge. Crowns don't last forever, with older crowns if
you get fifteen years you're lucky... the procedure and materials have
improved greatly during the past few years... but as one ages the
anchoring parts begin to deteriorate at an accelelorated rate. Often
the crown is fine but the tooth splits, then it'll need a full
extraction. I know someone who has had this happen and will be going
to have the work done in January... she'll need an implant, like
$5,000+. If one waits the jaw bone will decay and then it's too late
for an implant. Sometimes a bone graft is needed, can't tell until
they go in to have a look.