How to Use Dental Cement
If you break a tooth or lose a filling or a crown, you should immediately call your dentist for an evaluation and treatment. If you are out of town, seek a local dentist who can temporarily patch you up until you return home. In some cases, you may need to care for your tooth on your own while waiting to see a dentist. In this instance, purchase an over-the-counter dental cement kit from the pharmacy and use it to patch the hole or replace the crown for the few days that it may take you to see your dentist.
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Instructions
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To Fill a Hole
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1
Wash your hands. Never touch a tooth that has lost a filling with unclean hands, as you may put yourself at risk of infection.
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2
Brush your teeth and rinse your mouth well. Use a dry cotton swab to dry the tooth that you will be working on.
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3
Roll a small amount of temporary dental cement into an elongated ball. Use your fingers to place the narrow end of the cement into the hole. Push in as much cement as will fit, and use your fingernail to remove the excess.
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4
Wet a cotton swab and use it to push the cement more firmly into your tooth. Use the other end of the swab to remove any small pieces of cement that are stuck to your tooth and the adjoining teeth.
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5
Bite and grind your teeth together gently before the cement hardens so you won't have any places that are too high.
To Replace a Crown
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6
Wash your hands and the crown. Use a toothpick or a cotton swab to remove any traces of old cement from inside the crown.
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7
Place a thin layer of temporary dental cement inside the crown using a damp cotton swab.
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8
Place the crown over your tooth and press it into place with your fingers. Bite down to be sure that it is in the right place.
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9
Use a cotton swab to remove any excess cement that leaks out around the crown.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not be tempted to leave the temporary cement in place for more than a few days. A broken tooth or a lost filling or crown necessitates dental care. Relying on a temporary measure for a long period of time can permanently damage your tooth.
References
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