Temporary Crown Fell Out: What to Do Next

If your temporary crown falls off, you’re not alone. Temporary crowns are loosely attached to the teeth they cover. It’s not unusual for them to fall off.

Follow these basic steps:

1. Don’t panic. Temporary crowns often fall off.

2. Find the crown. Spit the device out of your mouth and rinse it off.

3. Rinse gently. Swish warm water around the tooth exposed by the crown. Gently tap it with your fingers to search for sharp edges.

4. Reattach the crown. Use a dental adhesive, dental wax, or toothpaste to reconnect the crown to your tooth.

5. Contact your dentist. Explain what happened and make an appointment for a new device.

6. Don’t overreact. If you swallowed the crown, don’t make yourself vomit or take laxatives to push it out faster.

While you wait for your dental appointment, avoid sticky foods that could remove the crown while you eat. Brush the area very gently to keep the crown from popping off. And remove the crown while you sleep if it’s not securely attached.

Why Do Temporary Crowns Fall Out?

Part of the process of having a crown, or tooth “cap,” placed involves using a temporary crown. This is a kind of placeholder that is positioned on your tooth while your permanent crown is being fabricated at a specialized dental laboratory. It can take a few weeks for your customized crown to be ready, meaning you will be wearing a temporary crown for that long.

Temporary crowns are important, as they protect your tooth and serve as a placeholder in your mouth. They can help you to eat, talk, and function normally. Temporary crowns use temporary cement to hold them in place. Because of this, it is common for them to fall off.

Self-care steps when your temporary crown falls out

Your temporary crown isn’t made to stay in your mouth forever. However, if it falls out earlier than it should, you’ll need to take action. Calling your dentist is a good first step. Taking care of your crown and mouth at home helps too.

While you wait for your appointment, one of these products could help you reattach your crown:

• Dental adhesives: Products like Dentemp and Recap-It are sold in pharmacies for people who lose their temporary crowns and caps. To use these products, remove as much of the old cement from inside your crown that you can. Rinse the crown and your mouth. Put a small amount of the adhesive into the crown and put it on your wet tooth. Press firmly and wait at least two hours before eating.

• Dental wax: Products like GUM Orthodontic Wax and OrthoDots are designed to smooth the rough edges of devices like braces. However, they could help to secure a crown in place. To use dental wax, remove old cement from inside your crown and rinse it. Warm up the wax as directed on the package and place it in the crown. Put the crown on your tooth and press firmly.

• Toothpaste: If your crown still feels fairly firm inside your mouth, you could use toothpaste to help it stick. Place a small dot of toothpaste inside the crown and place it back on your tooth. Press firmly.

The temporary crown that you receive is made of plastic and shaped to match the grooves of the affected tooth as much as possible, and a temporary adhesive is used to keep it in place until your permanent crown is made at a lab.

How to stay safe when your crown is loose

A dental crown is very small, and it’s typically made with nontoxic materials. In a study about swallowed dental devices, 44.8% involved dental crowns. If you swallow the device, you’re in good company.

Researchers say the majority of swallowed crowns cause no problems. They pass through the digestive tract uneventfully. Don’t try to make yourself vomit, as you could breathe in your vomit and cause more health issues. Similarly, don’t take laxatives to make the crown move through your body faster. It will come out in time.

While most people pass a swallowed crown with no problems, some people develop significant problems after swallowing their dental devices. The following symptoms are serious:

• Coughing

• Gagging

• Drooling

• Chest pain

• Twitching

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Fever

• Pain

If you swallow your crown and develop any of these serious symptoms, call 911 immediately. Explain what happened and wait for medical care to arrive. Your team can perform imaging tests to spot the swallowed crown and remove it via endoscopy or surgery as needed.

If your crown has already fallen out at least once, remove it when you eat and sleep. You’ll reduce your risk of accidentally swallowing it.

Seeing your dentist

If your temporary crown falls off, contact your dentist as soon as possible. They will want you to come back in and have the temporary crown recemented right away. If your dentist or orthodontist is unable to see you to reset your temporary crown in a timely fashion, they can often recommend an emergency dentist or other local office that might be able to help you.

Check with other local dentist offices to see if they offer walk-in appointments for reseating temporary crowns. You can also search for nearby walk-in or emergency dentists that do not require appointments to be seen quickly.

Generally, having a temporary crown replaced is not a dental emergency. You can wait a few days to get an appointment, especially if you are able to reset the temporary crown yourself.

Getting emergency help

You’ve called your dentist to tell them your temporary crown fell off. Unfortunately, your dentist doesn’t have any open appointments for the next week. What can you do next?

Several online organizations keep track of emergency dental clinics, including the following:

• Emergency Dentists

• 1-800-Dentist

• DentalChat

Use these directories to connect you with an emergency dentist who can help to reattach your temporary crown. If it’s possible, ask your current doctor to share your medical records (including your x-rays) with your temporary dentist.

Protect your temporary crown

You’ll only wear your temporary crown for a short period, but the care you provide can ensure it won’t fall out sooner than it should. Here’s what you should know.

Keeping your mouth clean is important, but don’t brush your temporary crown too vigorously. Instead, hold your brush very lightly and use light circular motions to remove debris from the surface. Don’t floss beneath your crown, as you could pop it out in an attempt to clean it.

Foods to avoid while wearing a temporary crown include the following:

• Crunchy or hard foods: Things like nuts or chips could break your temporary crown or lodge beneath it.

• Sticky foods: Things like toffee, hard candy, and raisins could attach to your temporary crown and pull it off.

• Tiny foods: Things like granola and popcorn come with tiny particles that could collect between your damaged tooth and the temporary crown.

Focus on eating soft foods that aren’t too hot or too cold. Warm pasta, applesauce, creamed soups, and smoothies could all be good options.

If your temporary crown falls off, take action. It is important not to just leave your temporary crown off and wait too long for your permanent crown. Leaving it off can damage the remaining tooth underneath and cause your teeth to shift and change shape, which can mean that your permanent crown will no longer fit right.