The purpose of dental onlay is to restore the appearance and function of the tooth following severe tooth decay or damage. The patient will be able to use their teeth like before. Unfortunately, dental restorations do not last forever and may fail eventually, either due to aging, injuries or accidents. Knowing what causes the dental onlay to fall off is helpful, and it is important that you learn how to fix the issue when it occurs.
An onlay is a restorative dentistry treatment that is often used as an alternative when dental fillings cannot be used to repair a damaged tooth. The onlay is fabricated from a durable, tooth-colored material that covers and protects the affected part of the tooth’s structure, such as decay. The onlay covers the chewing surfaces of the teeth, as well as the cusps. The composite material is shaped and cemented to the tooth enamel.
The onlay can fall off the tooth. Hot and cold food and the pressure of chewing can cause the material to expand and contract slightly. As the years go by, the bond between the onlay and the teeth can weaken and the dental restoration may break off.
If this occurs, patients might experience significant pain. The general dentist needs to be notified immediately. Before the dental appointment, sugar-free gum can be used to cover the affected tooth. This will help prevent the tooth from being infected.
Remove the fallen out onlay, and keep it safe to prevent swallowing it accidentally. If the onlay is not lost, the dentist can check and determine if it is reusable or needs to be replaced.
After keeping the onlay that fell out, patients need to contact the dental office and book an appointment as soon as possible. Considering the emergency nature of the problem, most offices will create time to attend to the patient immediately. However, if seeing a dentist immediately is not feasible, the tooth needs to be protected.
If the onlay is still intact, it should be coated with dental cement (available in most drug stores) and placed over the tooth. This will prevent bacteria from entering the tooth. Alternatively, patients can mold dental wax over the tooth to cover the void and serve as a temporary barrier. Many dental offices give dental wax to patients for procedures like braces, but they are usually available in drug stores as well. Note that these are not permanent solutions and are only meant to cover and protect the tooth before seeing the dentist.
Good oral hygiene is important, but extra care is necessary if the interior of a tooth is exposed after an onlay falls out. Brush carefully around the affected tooth to remove food debris. The mouth should also be rinsed with salt water as an extra precaution.
A dental onlay can fall out. However, do not panic when this happens. Contact our office as soon as possible to book an appointment.
Request an appointment here: https://www.kennethbauerdds.com or call Kenneth J Bauer DDS & Daniel K Bauer DMD - Kenneth J Bauer DDS, A Professional Corporation at (707) 691-5250 for an appointment in our Santa Rosa office.
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