Dental crowns are reliable repair appliances for fixing teeth, but nothing lasts forever. Dental crowns can fall off with time, or after being exposed to an overly hard or sticky substance. If your old dental crown has fallen off, and you don't know what to do, follow the steps in this simple 3-step guide to find out how to take care of yourself and to get the help you need right now.

Preserve and Clean

The first thing you should do is clean the dental crown. Plug up your sink so that you don't drop and lose it, and then gently wash it with water and soap. Once it's clean, put it in a sealed container so that you don't misplace or lose it.

As far as the tooth it came from is concerned, do your best to avoid chewing on the surface of the tooth. You also shouldn't brush it directly, as it may have exposed nerves that could be sensitive or painful. For now, brush around it and rinse thoroughly to loosen and remove any food debris.

Reattach

If your crown has simply fallen off and is not broken, you can reattach it temporarily to provide your tooth with the protection that it needs.

To do this, head to your local grocery store or drugstore. In the dental aisle, you should be able to find dental cement that's designed to quickly bond to dental appliances like crowns. With this product, you can reattach your crown.

You should follow the directions on the container, but in general, you'll put some dental cement inside the cleaned crown and then gently press it down over your tooth. You may need to hold it in place by gently biting down on it. After a few moments the dental cement will solidify and the tooth should be protected again.

Get Help

Don't make the mistake of thinking that because your dental crown is back on that you don't need to worry about it anymore. Store-bought dental cement is only temporary and isn't designed to be a permanent solution. You'll need to make an appointment with a dentist to have your teeth fixed.

The good news is, if your crown has simply fallen off, your dentist may be able to simply reattach it with professional-grade dental cement. However, if the tooth is damaged or the crown is damaged, a new one may be a necessity. Ask your dentist if you have questions.

Dental crowns can last for a very long time, but sometimes enough time passes or enough damage is done to cause one to fall off. Follow these steps and don't forget to get help from a dentist.