Thinking About Using Instant Glue to Hold That Crown In Place? Think Again

Dentist Blog

A trip to the dentist for a loose or broken crown is one expense that many people feel they could do without. If you have a crown that no longer bonds with your tooth, then you might be tempted to simply glue it back on with instant glue. This seems like a great way to save a few bucks, but it might hurt your teeth in the long run.

The Problem with Using Instant Glues

Instant glues have had plenty of surprising uses throughout their history, including as an alternative to sutures during surgery. So it's little wonder that many people are using the stuff for impromptu dental repairs. Unfortunately, using cyanoacrylate (the generic name for instant glues) could actually prove detrimental to your teeth for a number of reasons.

Although cyanoacrylate excels at bonding on non-porous surfaces such as your crown, it can have a difficult time bonding between the crown and the underlying tooth. As it turns out, the tooth itself is actually very porous in addition to being moist, making the eventual bond between the two very short lived.

But that's not the worst part about using cyanoacrylates for impromptu crown repair. The porosity of the tooth also makes it easy for the cyanoacrylate to travel into the tubules of the tooth. This can actually cause the tooth to decay and eventually die. At that point, your only option for saving the tooth is a root canal. In some cases, your dentist may have to extract the tooth.

Better Alternatives

Instead of using glues that could cause additional damage to your teeth, you can use temporary crown cement to hold your crown in place until you can see your dentist. Simply add a small amount of the cement inside of the crown and hold your teeth together until the adhesive sets. Keep in mind that this is just a temporary measure, as the cement will eventually wear off.

If you can't find any temporary crown cement at your local pharmacy, then the next-best option involves using a dental adhesive. Normally used for dentures, dental adhesive works just as well for holding crowns in place temporarily. Simply follow the above instructions as you would if you were using temporary crown cement.

In the end, the best way to deal with a loose or broken crown is to have your dentist take a look at it. Your dentist will be able to permanently glue the crown back to your tooth using specialized cements and techniques. There may even be additional dental work needed to return your teeth to their pristine appearance and functioning.

Make an appointment with a dentistry such as Leidenheimer Dental Group Inc to have your loose or broken crown fixed soon. 

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12 August 2016

Maximizing Your Smile Power

As a busy professional, my public appearance is very important to me. Networking with potential clients and business contacts is as much about the image you present as it is about what you do and what you know. I take care to look my best every day by taking special care with my hair, makeup, and clothes. But for a long time, I was embarrassed about my smile, and restricted myself to tight, closed mouth smiles to hide my yellowed, crooked teeth. Then I discovered what cosmetic dentistry could do for me. With the help of a great cosmetic dentist, I decided to have tooth whitening treatments and use corrective tooth straightening equipment. Now I have no problem flashing a big, white smile everywhere I go. You can do the same thing! Find out how cosmetic dentistry can maximize your smile power and improve your life.