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. If a crown or filling comes out, keeping the piece, cleaning the area gently, using dental cement from a pharmacy as a short-term cover and avoiding chewing on that side will protect the tooth until it can be repaired, since decay and fracture move quickly in an unprotected tooth.
Symptoms that bring people in urgently: lost crown or filling
- 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
- 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
Ask for an urgent appointment
Select urgent.
Common questions
Lost Crown or Filling: questions people ask
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.
What should I do first when a crown or filling comes out?
Keep the crown or inlay if you still have it, because recementing is often possible. Do not glue it back with household adhesive. Keep the area clean and avoid chewing on that side. Expect sensitivity to cold and air. Contact a practice promptly, since the surrounding tooth can chip or decay quickly.
Why is a lost restoration worth acting on?
It is usually uncomfortable rather than dangerous. But the exposed tooth is vulnerable, and the situation rarely improves on its own. The lost piece also tells the dentist what was there. A crown that feels loose, a sharp or sensitive tooth, or a temporary restoration that came off are all reasons to call.