Dental crowns for children can be a great way to protect their teeth from damage until their adult teeth grow. When a permanent tooth begins to appear, the corresponding baby tooth falls out on its own. There are other reasons for baby teeth to fall out, including decay or infection. In this blog post, we will discuss why your baby tooth with a crown fell out and what to do.
What are Children’s Dental Crowns?
Children’s dental crowns are a type of dental restoration that is placed over a baby tooth to protect it from damage. They repair and restore baby (primary) teeth that have been damaged by decay, infection, or a traumatic injury. Children’s crowns can be made from different materials, including metal, ceramic, or composite resin. You can read more about a prefabricated stainless steel crown.
Baby teeth with crowns fall out when the permanent tooth comes in. It is a natural process and usually not a cause for concern. If the baby tooth or crown fell out for any other reason, please call your dentist.
Why My Child’s Baby Tooth with a Crown Fell Out?
There are a few reasons why a baby tooth with a crown might fall out. One possibility is that the baby tooth has already begun to fall out on its own, and the crown has come off with it. Another possibility is that the crown has become loose due to decay or infection and has eventually fallen off. In either case, it is important to take the child to the dentist to have the tooth evaluated and determine if a new crown is needed.
Reasons for Why Baby Teeth or Crown Fell Out
First, you need to identify the problem to find the right solution. Did both the baby tooth and the crown fall out, or did only your child’s crown falls out, and the baby tooth is still in the mouth? Here are some of the reasons:
- Permanent tooth eruption. The most common reason is that the child’s adult teeth are coming in, causing both the baby tooth and crown to fall out. You can read more about the eruption of permanent teeth.
- Tooth decay and infection. They can cause the crown to loosen and eventually fall off. Baby bottle teeth rot is one of the most common causes of primary tooth loss.
- Trauma. It can cause the tooth or/and the crown to come off.
- Improper cementation. If your child’s crown was not cemented properly, it may have come loose and fallen off.
- Chewing on hard objects. If your child is chewing on hard objects like ice, this may cause the crown to loosen and fall out.
What Should I Do if My Child’s Baby Tooth with a Crown Fell Out?
If your child’s baby tooth with a crown falls out, you should take them to the dentist to have it evaluated. The dentist will determine if a new crown is needed and will also check to make sure the adult tooth is coming in properly using x-rays. If a new crown is needed, the dentist will put it on the tooth. If there is no decay or infection present, the dentist may just recommend keeping an eye on the tooth to make sure it is coming in properly.
What Does The Dentist Will Do?
The dentist will examine your child’s mouth and take x-rays to determine the underlying cause. The treatment depends on whether the permanent tooth begins to erupt or not.
- Monitor the location of the missing baby tooth. If the baby tooth has fallen out on its own, the dentist will recommend keeping an eye on the location of the missing tooth to make sure the permanent tooth is coming in properly.
- New crown. If only the crown fell out and the baby tooth is still intact, the dentist will place a new crown or cement the old one.
- Treatment of tooth decay or infection. If there is tooth decay or infection present, the dentist will treat it before putting a new crown on the tooth.
- Tooth extraction. The dentist may recommend a tooth extraction if the baby tooth is loose, can’t be treated, or the adult tooth is coming in improperly.
- Space maintainer. If the baby tooth with crown falls out and the permanent tooth won’t erupt soon, your dentist may recommend a space maintainer to keep the area open until the permanent tooth comes in.
Conclusion
If your child’s baby tooth with a crown fell out, take them to the dentist to have it evaluated. The dentist will determine if the permanent tooth is erupting, and you just need to keep an eye on the location of the missing tooth or if another treatment is necessary.
