Temporary Crown Fell Off? What to Do Next

What should you do first if your temporary crown fell off?

Keep the crown, call your dentist, and bring the crown to your visit. Cleveland Clinic advises making an appointment to see your dentist as soon as possible and bringing the lost crown with you. Calling early gives the team time to plan your visit.

The first steps

1. Find the crown and keep it in a clean place, such as a small container.

2. Call your dentist and explain that a temporary crown came off.

3. Chew on the other side of your mouth.

4. Avoid sticky foods until you are seen.

Who to call

Call the office that placed the crown. If that is us, call (770) 863-0005 and our team will help find the earliest visit available. Our page on lost fillings and crowns explains how we handle these visits.

Can you put a temporary crown back on yourself?

Sometimes, as a short-term step, but call your dentist first. Cleveland Clinic says that if possible, you can put a lost crown back in place after coating the inner surface with over-the-counter dental cement, toothpaste or denture adhesive. It also warns not to use super glue.

Why super glue is a bad idea

Super glue is not made for teeth, and Cleveland Clinic specifically says not to use it. If you try to reseat the crown, use dental cement made for teeth, and ask our team first.

If it does not fit back easily

Do not force it. A crown that will not seat may mean the tooth or the crown has changed. Leave it out, keep it safe, and call the office. Our guide to why a crown can take two weeks explains why a temporary is used in the first place.

Want this checked? Whether the crown went back on or not, your dentist should look at the tooth, so you can book a visit online or call (770) 863-0005.

When should you call a dentist right away?

Call right away if you have swelling that is getting worse, pain that over-the-counter medicine does not relieve, or a bite that feels wrong. MedlinePlus lists each of these as a reason to contact your dentist after a temporary crown. For an urgent problem, our emergency dental care page explains your options.

Red flags

• Swelling that is getting worse.

• Pain in the tooth that over-the-counter medicine does not relieve.

• A bite that feels wrong, or a tooth that feels out of place.

• A fever or chills.

• Bleeding that does not stop.

Call (770) 863-0005. If swelling makes it hard to breathe or swallow, you have a high fever, or swelling spreads toward your eye, face or neck, go to the ER or call 911.

Read the label on pain medicine

Ask a pharmacist or your doctor which over-the-counter pain medicine is safe for you, and follow the product label. We do not give doses here.

How long can you go without a temporary crown?

The sources we read do not give a safe number of days, so call as soon as you notice it is gone. A temporary crown covers the shaped tooth while your final crown is made. Without it, the tooth is exposed and may feel sensitive or rough to your tongue.

Why the temporary matters

Cleveland Clinic says a dentist places a temporary crown while you wait on your final one, and that temporary crowns are usually made of resin or acrylic. They are meant to be short-term, so they can come loose.

Waiting for the lab

Cleveland Clinic says a dental lab usually takes two to three weeks, sometimes longer, to make a new crown. That is a long time to go without cover, so do not wait for the final crown to be ready.

What happens at the dentist after a temporary crown falls off?

Your dentist will look at the tooth and the crown, then decide on the next step. That might be putting the temporary back, making a new one, or moving ahead with the final crown if it is ready. It depends on the tooth and where you are in treatment.

If your final crown is ready

MedlinePlus says that at the second visit the dentist removes the temporary crown and fits the final one. If yours is back from the lab, your visit may go straight to that step.

Thinking about a one-visit option

Some crowns can be made in one visit, with no temporary needed. Cleveland Clinic says same-day crowns are not for everyone, so ask whether you are a candidate. You can read about our same-day crowns and compare them in our guide to how long a crown procedure takes.

How do you keep a temporary crown from coming off?

Avoid sticky foods, chew on the other side, and slide your floss out instead of lifting it up. MedlinePlus gives these three tips for a temporary crown, and says lifting the floss can pull the crown off the tooth. Small habits like these help it stay in place until your final crown is ready.

Foods to skip

MedlinePlus names gummy bears, caramels, bagels, nutrition bars and gum. Cleveland Clinic adds ice cubes, very hard nuts and popcorn with kernels, and says these foods can damage or pull off a temporary or final crown. To see what the prep visit involves, read how dentists prep teeth for a crown.