You may be wondering: What if I swallowed a dental crown? In most cases, a crown won’t cause a problem. Even if you’ve swallowed a small, blunt object, such as a coin, it should pass through your digestive tract without causing any health issues. Nevertheless, you should contact your dentist or physician if you have any gastrointestinal problems.
Symptoms
Although the signs of swallowing a crown may not appear immediately, they typically appear within 12 to 14 hours of aspiration. In most cases, the foreign object will pass naturally through the body, but if the crown is a significant size, medical intervention may be required. While the majority of swallowed foreign objects pass through the GI tract without causing problems, symptoms of swallowing a crown can be severe.
The presence of an abdominal mass, perforation, or abscess is the most common complication. While swallowing a crown is uncommon, it is important to seek medical attention immediately if the patient experiences symptoms. While a crown will not cause a serious complication if swallowed whole, it should be promptly removed if the patient is experiencing any of the above symptoms. A patient with swallowed foreign bodies should undergo a CT scan to determine the exact location of the foreign body in their body.
The pain and tenderness that accompany a cracked crown are common but may not last long. These symptoms can be caused by the crown being improperly fitted. It can also be caused by chewy foods such as gum, bubble gum, or ice cubes. If the pain persists, it is important to visit your dentist to discuss the cause. A cracked crown can also result from clenching or grinding, and can cause headaches. Toothaches caused by a cracked crown can also be caused by an infection, a fractured tooth, or an underlying issue.
Some people are allergic to metals and can’t tolerate the materials used in crowns. This is rare, but the material used to create a crown is often made from a mixture of metals. Some people are allergic to metals, and others have an allergic reaction to porcelain. In the case of a porcelain crown, a dark line may appear at the junction between the crown and the tooth. If this happens, a crown that is too loose could allow bacteria to enter the tooth and cause decay to the rest of the tooth.
Treatment
If I swallowed a dental crown, how long does it take to pass? The answer depends on several factors. Most people will pass this dental prosthesis without incident. If swallowed, the crown will appear radio opaque on x-rays. In some cases, barium swallows may be necessary. If you experience pain in your abdominal region or cough, the dental crown may have entered your airways. Contact your family doctor immediately. However, if it causes abdominal pain, you should seek a gastrointestinal specialist. If the dental crown cannot be passed normally, a laparotomy may be required to remove it. Most often, however, the prosthesis will pass in its own time.
If you swallowed a dental crown, it will most likely remain in your stomach for a few days. After that, it will pass through the large intestine. This portion of the digestive tract is three to four inches wide and is capable of passing large items. It can take a few days or even a week to pass, depending on how far down your digestive tract it is. If you have any concerns, it is best to visit your family doctor for a proper diagnosis.
It is possible to swallow a crown when you are eating, brushing your teeth, or flossing. Most crowns will pass without any difficulty. However, if you swallowed a crown, you will have to go back to the dentist to get a new one. Most dentists will offer to reattach the crown for free if the crown was originally placed by a dentist. If you swallowed a dental crown, try to brush and floss your teeth regularly to prevent any bacteria from getting in.
If you’re concerned that you’ve swallowed a dental crown, call your dentist immediately. The dentist will likely give you a temporary crown to protect your mouth while the crown passes through your digestive system. If the dental crown is large, it may be a good idea to take an X-ray in order to identify where it has passed. If you’ve swallowed a dental crown, the chances of serious complications are small.
Recovery
In most cases, you can recover from swallowing a crown. In some cases, the swallowing may lead to an obstruction of the airways or even perforation of the intestines. If swallowing is the cause of the occurrence, it is important to contact a doctor or dentist as soon as possible. There are several ways to recover from swallowing a crown. Listed below are some of them.
To begin your recovery, you should watch your bowel movements closely. Try to eat beetroot or corn. Then, you’ll know when you’ve passed your crown. If it is too hard to tell, use a pair of rubber gloves to retrieve it. A dentist can help you recover from swallowing a crown if he or she feels it in your intestines.
Once you’ve had your crown implanted, you should wait about 30 minutes to 45 minutes before eating any solid foods or gum. However, you should brush and floss your teeth gently. Your gums will be tender for a few days, so a soft diet will be necessary for a few days. During the first few days, you can also drink warm water with a pinch of salt to reduce any soreness.
If you swallow a dental crown, it will likely remain in the upper part of your digestive tract for a few days. It will absorb stomach acid for a couple of hours, then move down your digestive tract and eventually exit through your bowels. This process may take several days or weeks, depending on the length of your intestines. If it doesn’t pass through your digestive tract, you can take it to your dentist for x-rays.
In addition to the dreadful pain, swallowing a dental crown can cause breathing problems. Moreover, you should seek the assistance of a dentist as soon as possible after swallowing it. In some cases, it may be necessary to have a tracheotomy or cricothyroidotomy to make sure that the crown has passed through the digestive tract. If the swallowed dental crown is not in the throat, the dentist may provide a temporary crown.
Recovering a lost crown
If you’ve swallowed a dental crown, the first step is to observe your bowel movements for twelve to fourteen hours to determine the exact location of the missing tooth. If you can’t see the tooth, try eating something like corn or beetroot, as these are easy to spot when they pass. If you do find the crown, you can retrieve it from the toilet with a pair of rubber gloves, which should make it easier to locate.
If the tooth is healthy, regurgitation should occur within a few days. If this doesn’t happen, you’ll need to visit a dentist right away to have the crown replaced. The dentist can take an x-ray to determine whether the crown has been swallowed or regurgitated. If you cannot locate the lost crown, you can still get treatment by scheduling an appointment for same-day or next-day dental care.
While swallowing a crown can cause serious complications, it’s unlikely to be fatal. Most crowns pass through the digestive system without any issues. The epiglottis, which seals the tracheal opening, is responsible for preventing foreign objects from passing through the body. If you swallowed a crown, you should hear a ‘clink’ in the toilet bowl.
Recovering a lost dental crown is not a simple process. The first step is to make a double-bag of the crown and its surrounding material. Once the crown has been found, it is important to call a dentist right away. You should also take it to an emergency dental clinic for sterilisation. The gum tissue around the crown may require treatment, and if the treatment is delayed, the process will be even more difficult.
If you’ve swallowed a dental crown, you may be wondering how long it will take to recover the lost tooth. Since crowns can be expensive, it may be more practical to recover your crown yourself. In addition to using gloves and a pail to search for the crown, you can sterilize the crown with a 3:1 solution of water and bleach. Then, you can bring it to the dentist, where he or she will clean and re-position it.
About The Author
Mindy Vu is a part time shoe model and professional mum. She loves to cook and has been proclaimed the best cook in the world by her friends and family. She adores her pet dog Twinkie, and is happily married to her books.