My Crown Fell Off. What Should I Do?

Short answer: keep the crown, rinse your mouth, and call your dentist to be seen as soon as you can, ideally within a day or two. Do not glue it back on yourself with super glue or other household glue. If you cannot be seen right away, a dab of temporary dental cement from the pharmacy can hold it in place for a short time.¹ If the crown and the tooth are still in good shape, the crown can often be cleaned and recemented in one quick visit.

A crown coming loose is one of the most common calls we get. It is unsettling, but it is rarely a crisis. What you do in the first day or two can make a real difference to whether that same crown can go back on.

What should I do first?

1. Find the crown and keep it safe. Rinse it gently and put it in a small bag or container. Bring it to your appointment.¹
2. Look at the crown and the tooth. If there is a piece of tooth inside the crown, the tooth itself has broken, and that changes the repair. Let us know when you call.
3. Rinse with warm salt water to clean the area.
4. Call us. Even if it does not hurt, a tooth without its crown should be seen soon.

Why does it matter if it does not hurt?

To make room for a crown, the dentist removes some of the outer tooth, and sometimes the tooth has also had a root canal.² Crowns are often placed to protect a weak tooth from breaking, so without its cover, the remaining tooth can be easier to break.³ The tooth under a crown can still get a cavity, and an uncovered tooth is more exposed.⁴ Nearby teeth can also drift over time. If the tooth breaks or the bite changes, the original crown may no longer fit, and a crown that might have been recemented may need to be replaced.

Can I put the crown back on myself?

If you cannot get to a dentist for a day or two and the crown feels loose or the tooth is sensitive, you can hold it in place temporarily:

• Clean the inside of the crown gently with a toothbrush.
• Check that it seats fully on the tooth before using anything. If it does not sit flat, do not force it.
• Use a temporary dental cement sold at pharmacies, following the package directions.¹ Bite down gently to seat it, then remove the excess.

Please do not use super glue or any household adhesive.¹ These products are not made for use in the mouth, and they can make it much harder for us to clean the crown and recement it properly. If there is any chance of swallowing or inhaling the crown, for example while you sleep, take it out and keep it in its container instead.

Why do crowns come loose?

• Decay under the crown, which weakens the tooth the crown is attached to²⁴
• Older cement that may have worn down over the years
• Sticky or hard foods, such as caramel, taffy or ice²
• Grinding or clenching, which puts heavy force on crowns night after night²
• Not enough tooth left to hold the crown, sometimes because the tooth broke under it⁴

Can the same crown be reused?

Often, yes. If the crown is intact, the tooth underneath is healthy and the fit is still good, we clean both surfaces and cement it back on. That is a short visit. If there is decay under it, the tooth has broken, or the crown is cracked or worn, we will recommend a new one. Our crown repair page explains how we make that decision. If a new crown is needed, you can read more about dental crowns and what the process involves.

When a tooth has broken down too far to hold any crown, the conversation turns to replacing it.⁴ We will talk you through the options, including dental implants, before anything is removed.

What will it cost?

Recementing a crown that is still in good condition is a small visit. A replacement crown is priced as a new crown. Many dental plans help with a replacement crown, but most limit how often the same tooth can get a new one, so the age of the old crown matters. We check your benefits and tell you the number before we start.

Lost a crown? Call Atlantic Dental Group

Call 910-762-0958 and bring the crown with you. We see patients from Wilmington, Leland, Porters Neck and the surrounding area, and we hold time for urgent problems. You can also request an appointment online.

Sources

1. Cleveland Clinic. What Is a Dental Emergency and Where To Go for Care. Cleveland Clinic.
2. Cleveland Clinic. Dental Crowns: Types, Procedure & Care. Cleveland Clinic.
3. American Dental Association. Crowns. MouthHealthy.org.
4. National Library of Medicine. Dental crowns. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.

This article is general information for patients. It is not a diagnosis, and it does not replace an exam or advice from your own dentist or physician.