Wouldn’t you know that while I was on my dream beach vacation, the crown on my front tooth broke and split in half! Since I was out of the country and still had a few days until going home, I panicked. I had no idea how to go about finding a dentist and was afraid it would cost a fortune, so I did the easiest thing I could think of – I bought some super glue for a quick fix and got back to the beach. It totally worked, but now that I’m home and need to see my dentist, I’m afraid I’ve caused a big problem. Will my dentist be able to get it off to replace it? — Leon

Leon,
Let’s face it… nobody wants to look in the mirror at a broken tooth – especially on vacation. But while DIY may be your specialty for home projects, it’s really best to leave any tooth “fixes” to the professionals.

It can be intimidating when you’re away from home to try and find an emergency dentist (even more so when you’re out of the country and you’re dealing with a possible language barrier, not to mention possible insurance hassles). But here’s the deal: an emergency dentist could have temporarily re-attached the crown properly so you could get by a few days until heading home. Try not to worry too much because your dentist will be able to get the crown off. Most bonding agents and cements he uses are stronger than any super glue you could buy. However, there’s no guarantee that it will come off in once piece, so you should be prepared in case you need to have it completely re-done. If you ever find yourself in this predicament again and you can’t get into your dentist right away, check at your local drug store for over-the-counter dental cement. It can be tricky to use and it will be temporary, but it’s a much better choice if you have to do a quick “DIY” fix.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune. Read more about why many consider Dr. Delaune to be the best dentist in New Orleans.