If your dental crown just fell out, the first thing to do is retrieve it. Don’t throw it away, and if it comes loose while you’re eating, be careful not to swallow it. In many cases, your dentist can reattach the same crown, saving you the cost and time of getting a new one. Here’s what to do right now and in the days ahead.
What to Do Right Away
Once you have the crown in hand, gently clean the inside of it with toothpaste to remove any old cement or debris. Rinse it with water and set it aside in a small container or zip-lock bag where it won’t get damaged or lost.
Next, look at the exposed tooth in a mirror. You’ll likely see a small, shortened nub of tooth structure. This is the prepared tooth that sat underneath the crown, and it’s now exposed to air, food, and bacteria. Rinse your mouth gently with warm water to clear away any loose cement fragments.
Call your dentist and explain what happened. Most offices will try to fit you in within a day or two for a situation like this. If it’s after hours or over a weekend, you can manage safely at home for a short time with the steps below.
Managing Pain and Sensitivity
Without the crown’s protection, the underlying tooth can feel extremely sensitive to temperature, pressure, and even air. This is because the inner layer of the tooth is now exposed, and it contains tiny channels that connect directly to the nerve.
Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen work well for temporary relief. Avoid very hot or very cold foods and drinks, since temperature extremes will trigger sharp sensitivity on the exposed tooth. Some people find that applying clove oil directly to the tooth helps numb the area, though this isn’t scientifically proven.
Using a Temporary Cement Kit
If you can’t get to a dentist right away, over-the-counter dental cement kits (available at most pharmacies) can hold the crown in place temporarily. Clean both the crown and the tooth first. Take a small amount of the cement material, roll it into a ball, and place it inside the crown. Press the crown back onto the tooth firmly, then bite down gently several times and grind side to side until it feels comfortable. Remove excess material if your bite feels off.
This is a short-term fix, not a permanent one. The seal won’t be as tight as professional dental cement, and the crown can come loose again while eating or sleeping. Do not use superglue, household adhesive, or any non-dental product to reattach a crown. These can damage the tooth, irritate your gums, and make it harder for your dentist to properly recement the crown later.
What to Eat (and What to Avoid)
Until you see your dentist, chew on the opposite side of your mouth. Stick to soft foods and avoid anything that could further damage the exposed tooth or pull a temporarily recemented crown loose.
- Avoid sticky foods like gum, taffy, and caramel, which can pull the crown off
- Avoid hard foods like ice, nuts, popcorn kernels, hard candy, and raw vegetables
- Avoid tough foods like steak, crusty bread, and pretzels
- Skip temperature extremes like ice cream or very hot soup
Cooked vegetables, soft grains, yogurt, scrambled eggs, and similar foods are safe choices. The goal is to keep pressure and irritation away from that tooth until it’s properly covered again.
Why Crowns Fall Off
Understanding why this happened can help you prevent it in the future. The most common reasons include:
Decay underneath the crown is a frequent culprit. Bacteria can work their way under the edges of a crown over time, slowly dissolving the tooth structure that the crown sits on. Once enough tooth is lost, the crown no longer has a snug fit and loosens. The cement that bonds the crown to the tooth can also degrade over years of exposure to saliva, chewing forces, and temperature changes. Biting into something hard or taking a blow to the face can knock a crown loose as well, even when the underlying tooth is healthy. Grinding your teeth at night puts repeated stress on crowns and can eventually break the cement seal.
What Happens at the Dentist
Your dentist will examine both the crown and the exposed tooth to decide if the old crown can be recemented or if you need a new one. They’ll check that the crown is still intact, that the edges seal properly against the tooth, that it contacts the neighboring teeth correctly, and that your bite alignment is accurate.
If the crown passes those checks and the underlying tooth is healthy, recementing is straightforward. The dentist cleans both surfaces and bonds the crown back in place with professional-grade cement. This typically costs between $100 and $500.
If there’s decay underneath, the dentist will need to remove it first. Minor decay can sometimes be treated and the same crown recemented. But if the tooth has lost significant structure, the old crown won’t fit anymore and a new one will need to be fabricated, which costs more and requires additional visits.
Risks of Waiting Too Long
A day or two without a crown is manageable with proper care. But leaving an exposed tooth unprotected for weeks or longer invites real problems. The weakened tooth can crack further, potentially making it impossible to repair with a crown at all. At that point, extraction becomes the only option. Neighboring teeth can begin to shift into the gap, changing your bite alignment. The exposed root area is also vulnerable to gum recession, which exposes even more of the tooth to bacteria and damage.
Even if the tooth doesn’t hurt, it’s still at risk. The longer you wait, the more likely a simple recementation turns into a more expensive and invasive procedure.