Lost Dental Crown What to Do Framingham

April 20, 2022

Dental crowns are caps that cover the entire visible part of a tooth. They are mostly used when a tooth is severely damaged or decayed and can’t be treated with a dental filling. Dental crowns can also complete the look of a tooth after a root canal or if it has significant cosmetic flaws. Though they often last around 15 years, these restorations aren’t impervious to damage or loss. If one of yours falls out, follow these three steps to handle a lost dental crown until your dentist can fix it for you.

Step #1: Contact Your Dentist

The first thing you should do if one of your dental crowns falls out is to contact your dentist. Explain what happened in detail. They’ll be able to help you make an appointment to come in and have your lost dental crown fixed. They will also walk you through what to do next as well as ways to keep yourself comfortable while you wait for your appointment.

Step #2: Locate the Crown

Look for the crown and place it in a plastic sandwich bag for safekeeping. Be sure to take it with you to your appointment. Your dentist may be able to reattach it. If you aren’t able to find it or the crown can’t be reused, they will have a new one made.

Step #3: Inspect Your Mouth

See if there are any pieces of the crown still stuck where it used to be. Additionally, try to determine if the underlying tooth is broken, if any sharp edges are poking out, or if you’re in serious pain. This information will allow your dentist to determine if your situation warrants emergency treatment.

Step #4: Mitigate Discomfort and Prevent Damage

Along with the tips your dentist gave you during

5 Things You Shouldn’t Do After Dental Implant Surgery

Dental implants are a big investment. They have the potential to last for decades with the proper maintenance. The first step in your journey to a complete smile involves your dental implant surgery. Titanium posts are surgically placed into your jawbone to replicate tooth roots, so you can expect there to be a bit of a recovery. Don’t let anything compromise the success of your procedure. Here are 5 things you do NOT want to do after your placement surgery.

1. Don’t Smoke

It can be difficult to kick the habit, but you’ll want to put down the cigarettes. The overall success of the procedure relies on your jawbone fusing to the posts through a process called osseointegration. Smoking can affect the healing process, increasing the risk of failure. If you want your investment to thrive, it’s best to stop smoking permanently to avoid preventable complications later, like an infection.

2. Don’t Rinse Excessively

You’ll need to keep your mouth clean while it heals; however, don’t rinse vigorously for at least 48 hours after your procedure. Excessive rinsing can cause the implant site to bleed. Although you’ll still want to rinse, do so gently and let the liquid run out of your mouth into the sink.

3. Don’t Exercise

You’ll have to skip the gym for a few days. Intense exercising can increase your blood flow, which can cause bleeding at the implant site. After enough healing has occurred, your dentist will give the go-ahead to get back to your fitness routine.

4. Don’t Drink Through a Straw

Your mouth is going to be sore for a few days. It might make sense to use a straw to make it easier to drink, but that could lead to a painful condition called dry socket. Suction can dislodge the blood clot

Why do Teeth Stain? – Framingham Premier Dental Blog

Man's smile compared with tooth color chartMany patients want to brighten their smiles, and they devote nearly countless hours and dollars to using over the counter teeth whitening options. Unfortunately, unless you understand the underlying causes of your tooth staining, you may not be using the most effective smile brightening products. This is where a professional cosmetic dentist comes into play. When you partner with a cosmetic dentist, you will get the care you need to predictably achieve a smile up to ten shades brighter. In this post, we’ll review some of the most common causes of tooth staining, and how a cosmetic dentist can help you brighten your smile with professional teeth whitening and other treatment options to address your unique dental staining.

Habitual Staining

There are some daily habits that lead to dental discoloration. The most common habitual staining comes from poor oral hygiene, tobacco use, and consuming large quantities of darkly colored foods and drinks. For staining caused by these habitual behaviors, a professional in-office or take-home teeth whitening plan is usually effective in delivering the flawless, bright white smile you deserve. However, you will need to make some changes to these habits to ensure you can maintain your brighter smile. Our team will be happy to partner with you to review the habits that lead to your dental discoloration and help you plan to avoid further dental staining.

Developmental Staining

Some stains occur when teeth are developing, and they may not be treatable with traditional teeth whitening options. Some forms of developmental staining include:

  • Fluorosis – due to overconsumption of fluoride during dental development
  • Enamel hypoplasia – thinning enamel that reveals the yellow dentin layers of teeth
  • Tetracycline – medications containing tetracycline can cause dark stains or banding on teeth when taken during dental development
  • Genetics – some patients simply have darker