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Desperately need advice on a dental catastrophe

33 replies

Tolkienista · 12/07/2026 21:28

I have regular dental check ups, last one in May with my periodontist and hygienist, great appointments, left feeling very happy.
Booked in a check up and consultation with my dentist for July 28th for replacing four front upper crowns, that are 20 years old, but haven't given me any problems apart from my gum recession .

This evening I was at a friend's house she handed me a wrapped chocolate that I bit into, one of my crowns has snapped clean off from the gum line, just a massive gap left, no pain at all.

To make matters worse......next week is my mother's funeral, I've written the eulogy and I'm lined up to deliver.it too, but at the moment with the gap, I'm whistling and lisping.
I'm just devastated.
Is there anything a dentist can do to at least make me sound normal when I speak.
Just kicking myself for ever having taken that chocolate, apparently it was straight out of the fridge.

Just feeling my.dentist won't be able to reattach it at all, not even temporarily.
I'm going to ring in the morning.
Please help, on top of my mother's loss, can't think straight.

OP posts:
bassclef · 12/07/2026 21:35

I’m so sorry for your loss.

Regarding the crowned front tooth snapping off at the gum - Something similar happened to me 9 years ago. My dentist was able to pin the crown back on temporarily, while a fresh crown was made. During this time (about 2 weeks), I had to be very careful not to bite into anything - knife and fork / chopped everything into small pieces.
The new crown was fitted and is held in place with a pin - it’s been there for 9 years now. I still don’t bite into things apples / chocolate from the fridge, but haven’t had any problems

Nightmanagerfan · 12/07/2026 21:35

They should be able to do a temporary crown? I have one in at the moment

WaneyEdge · 12/07/2026 21:41

Similar happened to me on Good Friday at 6pm 🙄.

I googled and found a chain called Night & Day, open 24/7. They are expensive but they fitted me a fibre post and composite tooth the next day. Obviously try your own dentist first and hopefully they can do something.

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Tolkienista · 12/07/2026 21:57

bassclef · 12/07/2026 21:35

I’m so sorry for your loss.

Regarding the crowned front tooth snapping off at the gum - Something similar happened to me 9 years ago. My dentist was able to pin the crown back on temporarily, while a fresh crown was made. During this time (about 2 weeks), I had to be very careful not to bite into anything - knife and fork / chopped everything into small pieces.
The new crown was fitted and is held in place with a pin - it’s been there for 9 years now. I still don’t bite into things apples / chocolate from the fridge, but haven’t had any problems

Thank you for your lovely message. It sounds so similar to me.
What I'm kicking myself for, is that I never ever bite into anything unknown & stupidly I did this evening, in a darkened room, friends house, not thinking.
I knew straight away what I'd done.

What makes it worse, is that I'm heartbroken at the death of my mother, she died 11 days ago and I promised her I'd write and deliver her eulogy. I've written it from the heart, but the way I sound at the moment,.it's not going to happen unless I get something drastically done.

I'll let you know how I get on.

OP posts:
Tolkienista · 12/07/2026 22:00

Nightmanagerfan · 12/07/2026 21:35

They should be able to do a temporary crown? I have one in at the moment

I really hope so.
I'm not in the slightest bothered how it looks, it's all about making me sound like me again.

Just can't believe how it happened, I have to aggressively clean around all my teeth due to being periodontically challenged, really aggressive cleaning and then this happens.

Thanks for your help, much appreciated.

OP posts:
AutumnLover1990 · 12/07/2026 22:01

I'm so sorry for your loss 😞
Speak to your dentist asap, explain the situation re your mum's funeral. They should be able to do something temporarily xx

Tolkienista · 12/07/2026 22:03

WaneyEdge · 12/07/2026 21:41

Similar happened to me on Good Friday at 6pm 🙄.

I googled and found a chain called Night & Day, open 24/7. They are expensive but they fitted me a fibre post and composite tooth the next day. Obviously try your own dentist first and hopefully they can do something.

Ah thank you for taking.the time to reply to my post,.that is really helpful.
I'm going to phone first thing in the morning and see what they say and explain that my mother's funeral is coming soon.

Of all the times it would have to happen, this is the worst possible time.

OP posts:
EyerollSeriously · 12/07/2026 22:06

I’m so sorry that you’ve lost your mum and now this has happened too. I think the dentist will be able to do something temporary for you, too. Flowers

Tolkienista · 12/07/2026 22:06

AutumnLover1990 · 12/07/2026 22:01

I'm so sorry for your loss 😞
Speak to your dentist asap, explain the situation re your mum's funeral. They should be able to do something temporarily xx

Thank you for your lovely words, I think I'll have to mention her funeral, because at the moment it's the only thing that counts. It's been a very traumatic time, before she died.

OP posts:
Tolkienista · 12/07/2026 22:08

EyerollSeriously · 12/07/2026 22:06

I’m so sorry that you’ve lost your mum and now this has happened too. I think the dentist will be able to do something temporary for you, too. Flowers

I really hope so.
If it was.further back in my mouth, it wouldn't matter, but I'm lisping and whistling and I just couldn't stand up in a packed church and deliver what I've written.
Thanks for your help and taking the time to reply.

OP posts:
TooHotToBoogie · 12/07/2026 22:20

Sorry for your loss. The dentist will definitely be able to help you, try not to stress to much xx

EyerollSeriously · 12/07/2026 22:25

Tolkienista · 12/07/2026 22:08

I really hope so.
If it was.further back in my mouth, it wouldn't matter, but I'm lisping and whistling and I just couldn't stand up in a packed church and deliver what I've written.
Thanks for your help and taking the time to reply.

I completely get that, keeping everything crossed for you and that the dentist can give you a resolution to tide you over.

Mumtobabyhavoc · 13/07/2026 02:51

Tolkienista · 12/07/2026 21:28

I have regular dental check ups, last one in May with my periodontist and hygienist, great appointments, left feeling very happy.
Booked in a check up and consultation with my dentist for July 28th for replacing four front upper crowns, that are 20 years old, but haven't given me any problems apart from my gum recession .

This evening I was at a friend's house she handed me a wrapped chocolate that I bit into, one of my crowns has snapped clean off from the gum line, just a massive gap left, no pain at all.

To make matters worse......next week is my mother's funeral, I've written the eulogy and I'm lined up to deliver.it too, but at the moment with the gap, I'm whistling and lisping.
I'm just devastated.
Is there anything a dentist can do to at least make me sound normal when I speak.
Just kicking myself for ever having taken that chocolate, apparently it was straight out of the fridge.

Just feeling my.dentist won't be able to reattach it at all, not even temporarily.
I'm going to ring in the morning.
Please help, on top of my mother's loss, can't think straight.

You will be fitted with a temp crown while the new one is being made. As it is in the front you should get an urgent appt

Gormless · 13/07/2026 04:18

OP, I had a crown that just fell out during a Rufus wainwright concert at the royal Albert hall 😂. It was a front tooth too so I was lisping as well. The dentist was able to fit a temporary crown the next morning and though I had to be careful it held up just fine till the replacement arrived a couple of weeks later. You’ll be just fine. I’m so sorry about your mum.

lordbaddingham · 13/07/2026 04:26

OP, the person conducting the funeral should be able to read the eulogy if you are unable to. I know it's not quite the same but your words will be heard. I think the dentist should be able to help with a temporary crown too, same thing happened to my mum not long ago.

Gettingbysomehow · 13/07/2026 04:37

I had mine glued back on OP while I was waiting for an implant and there was virtually nothing left.im sure you will be ok.

Tolkienista · 13/07/2026 18:13

@AutumnLover1990 @bassclef @EyerollSeriously @Gettingbysomehow @Gormless @lordbaddingham @Mumtobabyhavoc @Nightmanagerfan @TooHotToBoogie @WaneyEdge thank you one and all for your messages and advice last night and this morning with regard to my broken crown, i was beyond worried this time 24 hours ago, not thinking it possible to reattach it.

24 hours later, one phone call this morning .....an emergency appointment made with my dentist.
All reattached within 10mins, but it's only temporary & I've got strict instructions how to clean round it, basically not my usual routine and he said it might fall off again, so I'm going to be extra careful how I eat.

MN has always been a source of support for me when I've needed it most, last night your excellent posts sent me to bed feeling optimistic that something could be done. Take a bow everyone, you really made a difference. x

OP posts:
Gazelda · 13/07/2026 18:35

I’m so pleased to read your update. What a relief for you.

I’m sure you’ll do your mum proud next week.

bassclef · 13/07/2026 18:39

I’m so glad it’s sorted Tolkienista.
I hope all goes well with your Mum’s funeral, will be thinking of you.

AutumnLover1990 · 13/07/2026 18:43

SO happy you got it sorted. Thank you for the update 💐

Nitgel · 13/07/2026 18:46

I had exactly the same thing. A week before my dad's funeral ! The dentist filed down the tooth and got a temp individual denture.made.

I literally sat in the denture lab while they made it. Was right at the front.

I had all my front crowns replaced by implants in the end.

Glad you got a temp solution

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 13/07/2026 18:51

Tolkienista · 13/07/2026 18:13

@AutumnLover1990 @bassclef @EyerollSeriously @Gettingbysomehow @Gormless @lordbaddingham @Mumtobabyhavoc @Nightmanagerfan @TooHotToBoogie @WaneyEdge thank you one and all for your messages and advice last night and this morning with regard to my broken crown, i was beyond worried this time 24 hours ago, not thinking it possible to reattach it.

24 hours later, one phone call this morning .....an emergency appointment made with my dentist.
All reattached within 10mins, but it's only temporary & I've got strict instructions how to clean round it, basically not my usual routine and he said it might fall off again, so I'm going to be extra careful how I eat.

MN has always been a source of support for me when I've needed it most, last night your excellent posts sent me to bed feeling optimistic that something could be done. Take a bow everyone, you really made a difference. x

Basically don’t eat around that area. When I had a temporary crown/bridge I’d been told it was unstable but not how much. I was in a Costa with a friend having a sausage bap didn’t even bite hard and it came loose. It was a nightmare as my dentist was a 30-40 minute drive away.

FabulousFreshias · 13/07/2026 18:55

I’m so pleased you got it sorted, even if you have to only eat soup until the funeral it sounds like it will be worth it! I hope that everything goes well in the lead up to your mum’s funeral and that you get the goodbye you want for her Flowers

Tolkienista · 13/07/2026 19:46

Thank you everyone for your lovely extra comments.
I've really enjoyed reading them.
I had quiche and salad for tea and it was absolutely fine.
Definitely no more chilled chocolate from the fridge for me, that's what broke the tooth off yesterday.
My crowns are 20 years old now, so they've served me really well. I've got an appointment for the day after the funeral to plan forward with replacing them.
What a difference a day makes!

OP posts:
EyerollSeriously · 13/07/2026 22:07

I’m so relieved for you, you’re going through something so hard already and then when something like that happens on top, it just feels like the last straw.

You sound like a lovely person who’s going to do your mum proud, fingers crossed for you and also for your ultimate tooth repair! Flowers

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