Prosthesis broken, loose or lost

Three things apply to every prosthesis that causes trouble: keep all the pieces, glue nothing yourself, and do not wait for weeks.

Why glue does damage

Superglue and repair kits from the chemist often make a proper repair impossible – what would have been a matter of hours then becomes a new fabrication. And such glues have no business in the mouth.

Why waiting gets expensive

Under a loose crown or bridge, decay carries on undisturbed. What today would be a re-cementing is a lost abutment tooth in three months.

At the weekend

A crown that has come off is unpleasant but not an emergency – the next working day is soon enough. An emergency is severe pain, a swelling or a sharp edge injuring the tongue. That is what the dental emergency service is for.