I had a root canal done and my dentist put a temporary filling in it and I’m going back for a crown on Monday. I went out to eat tonight and I felt something kind of gritty. It seems like it could be my tooth. Can this hold off until Monday or do I need an emergency appointment?
Macy
Dear Macy,
The first thing I’d like you to do is take a peek at the tooth if you’re able. If there is a hole in the center of the tooth, but the rest of the tooth looks fine, then it’s likely just the temporary filling that has come loose. If you’re careful and mostly eat on the other side then you should be fine until you go for your crown.
However, when you have a root canal treatment the tooth does become brittle, it’s possible that it did break. If that’s the case, call your dentist. He should have a protocol for dental emergencies so he can see patients in your situation even after hours.
You don’t want to waste time on this because if it crumbles completely you’ll have to replace the entire tooth, not just crown it.
If Your Tooth Can’t Be Saved
Worst case scenario is the tooth can’t be saved. If that happens, don’t panic. There are quite a few tooth replacement options.
- Dental Implants: These are the top of the line option in replacements for your teeth. However, they are expensive. If you’re not ready for that type of cost, you can get a temporary replacement, like a dental flipper until you’re ready.
- Dental Bridge: This is a false tooth suspended between two dental crowns. This makes more sense if the adjacent teeth already need work, but it is a perfectly acceptable solution.
- Removable Partial Dentures: These are fake teeth which attach to your bite by clasps which grip other teeth. It’s not ideal but it works.
This blog is brought to you by Lexington Dentist Dr. Fred Arnold.