A crown or filling that comes out is usually uncomfortable rather than dangerous, but the exposed tooth is vulnerable and the situation tends not to improve on its own. Keep the restoration if you still have it — sometimes it can be recemented, and it tells the dentist what was there.
Symptoms that bring people in urgently
You do not need to identify the cause before asking for help. Describe what you are experiencing and let the examination establish what is happening.
- A crown feels loose
- A filling or crown has fallen out
- The tooth is sharp or sensitive
- A temporary restoration came off
What to do first
A lost restoration is usually uncomfortable rather than dangerous, but the exposed tooth is vulnerable and the situation rarely improves on its own.
- Keep the crown or inlay if you still have it — recementing is often possible
- Do not attempt to glue it back with household adhesive
- Keep the area clean and avoid chewing on that side
- Expect sensitivity to cold and air from the exposed surface
- Contact a practice promptly — the surrounding tooth can chip or decay quickly
What the dentist may need to do
Urgent care is usually staged: relieve the immediate problem, establish the cause, then agree the definitive treatment. The first appointment does not always complete all three.
- Recementing when the fit and tooth allow
- A new filling or crown
- Treatment for decay or fracture below the restoration
- A temporary repair followed by definitive care
What the appointment involves
The first question is why it came out, because that decides whether the same restoration can simply go back.
- Examination of the crown or filling and the tooth underneath
- Checking for decay, a fracture or insufficient tooth structure
- Recementing the existing restoration where the fit and the tooth allow
- Rebuilding the tooth first where the core has broken down
- Making a new restoration where the old one cannot be reused
What happens at an urgent appointment
The priority is identifying the source of the problem and doing what can safely be done now. That often means an examination and X-ray, then either immediate treatment or a plan with a short timeframe.
This website is not monitored continuously and cannot promise same-day availability. Call 911 or go to an emergency room for trouble breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding, serious facial injury, or swelling spreading toward the eye or neck — see emergency dentist or emergency room.
Ask for an urgent appointment
Select the urgent option and give your timing honestly when you request an appointment. We follow up to arrange care with a Vermont dental practice, which sets its own availability.
Common questions
What people ask before scheduling
Can my old crown just be glued back on?
Often, if the crown is intact and enough sound tooth remains underneath. If the crown came off because the tooth beneath it decayed or fractured, that has to be dealt with first.
Why did it come out?
Common reasons are decay under the margin, cement failure over time, a fractured core, or heavy biting forces. The reason matters because it determines whether recementing will hold.
Is it urgent?
Prompt rather than emergency, unless there is pain or the sharp edge is cutting you. Leaving it for weeks risks decay and drifting, which can mean a new crown no longer fits.
Can I use a temporary repair kit from a pharmacy?
They can protect a tooth for a day or two but are not a fix, and improper seating can damage the tooth or crown. Treat them as a stopgap while you arrange an appointment.
Can I be diagnosed from this form?
No, and you should be wary of anywhere that offers to. Urgent problems need an examination and usually an X-ray to establish the cause before treatment.
Will I be seen the same day?
Availability is set by the dental practice, and this website cannot guarantee it. Submit the request with honest timing. For anything life-threatening, call 911 rather than waiting.
What will an urgent visit cost?
An urgent assessment fee is usually quoted before the appointment. What follows depends entirely on what is found, so a full estimate comes after the examination.
Patient education sources
Sources were checked on August 19, 2026. Personal recommendations require a dental examination.