While a lost dental crown might seem less scary than a knocked-out tooth, it still counts as a severe problem. After all, the prosthetic is supposed to protect you from infection and further damage. Without it, your pearly white is vulnerable and at risk. You should thus contact your dentist for treatment as soon as possible. If you have time until your appointment, though, you’ll also need to handle parts of your situation yourself. To help you do that, here’s a summary of three tips to follow while you wait.

Brushing and flossing your teeth at home are key steps when it comes to keeping your smile looking its best, but so are biannual dental checkups. During these visits, your dentist or hygienist will clean your teeth and around your gum line to get rid of any plaque or tartar that’s built up since your last visit. There are also several other things they do to ensure that your oral health stays in good shape. Read on to learn about nine things your dentist does during dental checkups that you may not have known about.