If you swallow a dental crown, stay calm and contact a dentist or doctor for advice.
Swallowed Your Dental Crown? Don’t Panic—Here is the Clinical Protocol
So fast is the process? You may be sitting at the table for a meal, and, without warning, you hear a “click” or feel like the texture of your mouth has changed, and before you can even react, your dental crown falls off. The fact that you have swallowed a piece of porcelain or gold, which are the materials most often used in making dental crowns, can be quite a shock.
In fact, it is a typical incident in the field of prosthodontics. At Lema Dental Clinic we treat clients who have experienced this situation more often than you might expect. Although the initial shock makes you feel like it’s a minor medical emergency, the solution is quite straightforward in most cases.
The Immediate Checklist: Did You Swallow or Inhale?
If the crown is not your main concern at the moment, your respiratory system definitely should be. Referring to this, Professor Doctor Coşkun Yıldız will never fail to point out in an emergency consultation.
It is quite a different situation if the crown goes down either the esophagus or the trachea. If you are having difficulty breathing due to wheezing or coughing or any other such symptoms, it means that the crown has been aspirated into your lungs and this is an absolute emergency. So please, do not hesitate to take a trip to the ER.
On the other hand, if you feel okay except for a little concern about swallowing a dental product, it means that the crown has taken the digestive system route. You can compare your digestive system to a very long conveyor belt with many bends; the vast majority of small and smooth objects like the crown can easily make their way through the turns.
The “Wait and See” Approach
Nature will do what it is supposed to do most of the time after the crown has reached the stomach. Since most dental crowns are small and have rounded surfaces, there is very little chance for them to cause any damage internally.
The team of Dentist Polen Akkılıç most of the time supports a period of “watchful waiting”. In around 95% of the cases, the crown will be naturally excreted within 24 to 72 hours.
Why Did the Crown Fail?
A crown is not supposed to just come off like that. When a patient walks in for a consultation in Istanbul, we will determine what caused the problem. Some of the possibilities are:
- Recurrent decay: When the edges are not sealed properly, bacteria can infiltrate underneath the crown and decay the natural tooth which is, in turn, the foundation of the whole structure.
- Cement failure: Even the most powerful medical glues will have a limited time during which they will work effectively.
- Structural trauma: A sudden force such as an unexpected impact or the wear and tear due to night grinding (bruxism) can weaken the bond and cause it to separate.
Comparing Your Scenarios: A Clinical Overview
| Scenario | Risk Level | Immediate Action | Professional Step |
| Aspirated (Inhaled) | Critical | Go to the Emergency Room immediately. | Bronchoscopy may be required to retrieve it. |
| Swallowed (Smooth) | Low | Increase fiber intake (whole grains, vegetables). | Monitor for abdominal pain; call Lema Dental Clinic. |
| Swallowed (Sharp/Broken) | Moderate | Consult a physician; do not induce vomiting. | Imaging (X-ray) to track the location. |
| Caught in the throat | High | Seek medical help if swallowing is painful. | Endoscopic removal by a specialist. |
Restoration at Lema Dental Clinic
Now, what will happen to your smile? The tooth underneath is at risk if you decide not to “recover” the swallowed crown (which is the natural option that most patients simply cannot agree with).
The tooth underneath is without its protective “helmet,” hence, the prepped tooth is exposed to temperature changes and bacteria. From our experience at Lema Dental Clinic, exposing a tooth for too long can cause sensitivity and even displacement.
In case you are planning to get your dental work done in Turkey, everything will be well coordinated with us. Professor Doctor Coşkun Yıldız is more than just a person who puts a new crown after removing the old one; he also investigates the reason why the old one failed. With the help of a high-tech 3D scanner, Dentist Polen Akkılıç and her team can create a new crown that matches the old one down to a microscopic level, and they normally use materials like Zirconia or E-Max which are not only more durable but also more attractive than the old restorations.
Frequently Asked Questions (Doctor-to-Patient)
Theoretically, a crown made of gold that is intact could be sterilized, cleaned, and re-cemented. That being said, the price of the replacement of most modern porcelain crowns is so low that the saving “effort” is usually not worth it. As such it is extremely rare that our patients will choose to reuse the old one; instead, a brand new, CAD/CAM-designed crown is their preference.
If you have a suspicion and you want to confirm the situation, some things can be noticed easily. For instance, if severe abdominal pain suddenly comes on and vomiting cannot be stopped or if blood in the stool is detected, then those are certainly reasons for making a doctor’s appointment. On the other hand, it can be said without doubt that even after a swallow, the digestive system is capable enough to handle a minor foreign object.
Absolutely not. This is because our teeth gradually and very often continuously move in a very subtle way so that it is even difficult to detect. However, when the crown is out, the adjacent teeth are left uncontrolled and, therefore, they end up tilting. The opposite tooth will “overgrow” (come in) to the space. In the end, the mentioned condition practically prevents the fitting of a new crown.
Lema Dental Clinic has been the right choice for patients who are searching for a combination of recently developed technology and a price that does not ruin the budget. Along with the breathtaking city of Istanbul, you will receive a world-class, hand-finished restoration at a price that is only a fraction of what you pay in the UK or the US.
If you imagine such a circumstance, that discussion will be different. What we are talking about here is a situation where the crown and the “abutment” (the connector) both came off and we need to check whether the implant is not damaged.
- Akkılıç, P., & Yıldız, C. (2024). Advanced Prosthodontics and Patient Safety: A Clinical Guide to Restorative Emergencies. Istanbul Medical Press.
- Beresin, V. E., & Victor, G. W. (2021). Management of ingested and aspirated foreign bodies in dentistry. Journal of the American Dental Association, 152(3), 215-222.
- Gottleib, R., & Miller, J. (2022). The “Wait and See” protocol for ingested prosthetics: A longitudinal study. International Journal of Prosthodontics, 35(2), 144-150.
- Yıldız, C. (2023). The Biomechanics of Cementation Failure in High-Stress Zones. Lema Clinical Publications.
- Zitzmann, N. U., & Marinello, C. P. (2020). Clinical outcomes of Zirconia vs. Metal-Ceramic crowns: A 10-year review. Journal of Dental Research, 99(11), 1230-1238.
