Temporary Crown Fell Off? What to Do Tonight, What Not to Do, and When to Call
Your temporary crown just popped off and your appointment is days away? Dr. Liza Wakim explains what to do tonight, how to put it back on safely, what never to use, and when to call your dentist.
It usually happens at the worst possible time: a bite of caramel, a chewy bagel, or a quick floss, and suddenly the temporary crown is sitting in your hand or rattling around your mouth. The good news is that this is common, and in most cases it is not an emergency.
Temporary crowns are held on with a deliberately weak cement, so your dentist can remove them easily when the permanent crown is ready. That also means they can come off. Here is exactly what I tell my patients to do.
Do not use superglue, nail glue or any household adhesive. It can bond the crown in the wrong position, trap bacteria underneath and make it much harder for your dentist to remove and fit the permanent crown.
How to put a temporary crown back on (and what never to use)
If the crown is intact and you feel comfortable doing it, you can usually put it back on as a short-term fix. These steps follow the approach in NHS guidance for a lost crown:
- Clean the crown. Gently remove any old cement or food from inside it.
- Brush the tooth gently and rinse.
- Test the fit first, without cement. Place the crown on the tooth and bite down gently. It should seat fully and your bite should feel normal. Never force it.
- Use temporary dental cement from a pharmacy. Mix it according to the package, line the inside of the crown with a thin layer, place it on the tooth and bite gently to seat it.
- Clean up. Remove extra cement with a toothpick and floss gently, sliding the floss out to the side rather than pulling up.
If you do not have temporary cement, a small dab of toothpaste or denture adhesive can sometimes hold the crown in place for a few hours, but it is a stopgap only.
If it does not fit, or you are not confident, do not force it. Keep it safe and let your dentist re-cement it.
Is it an emergency?
Usually not, but you should still call your dentist soon. The table below shows how I think about it:
Why temporary crowns come off
How long a temporary crown should last
A temporary crown is meant to protect the tooth only until the permanent crown is ready, which is usually a matter of weeks. It is made of softer material and held with weaker cement, so it is not designed to last long. Some temporaries stay in longer, for example during root canal or implant treatment, but the plan should always be to replace it with the final crown on schedule. Wearing a temporary much longer than planned raises the risk of problems with the tooth and gums.
Why does it matter if the temporary is off for a few days? The prepared tooth can become sensitive, and neighboring or opposing teeth can start to shift slightly, which can make the permanent crown harder to fit. That is why I always ask patients to call even if the tooth feels fine.
What if your permanent crown fell off?
The first steps are the same: keep the crown, rinse it, check that the tooth is not broken and call your dentist. NHS guidance notes that you can temporarily re-cement a permanent crown with pharmacy temporary cement if it fits easily and your bite feels right, but never force it and never use superglue.
A permanent crown coming off is more often a sign that something else is going on, such as decay under the crown, a broken tooth or a crown that has simply reached the end of its life. Your dentist will check the tooth, often with an X-ray, before deciding whether it can be re-cemented or needs a new crown. My post on how long dental crowns last explains what affects their lifespan.
Skipping the temporary: same-day crowns
If the idea of a temporary popping off makes you nervous, there is another option. With same-day crowns, the final crown is designed and made in the office and placed at the same visit, so there is no temporary to lose. Not every tooth is a candidate, but it is worth asking about. My post on whether same-day crowns are more expensive or just more convenient compares the two approaches, and what happens during a dental crown procedure walks through each step.
When to see a dentist
Call and book a visit in the next day or two if:
- Your temporary crown came off, even if you put it back on yourself
- The tooth is a little sensitive, or the crown feels loose or high
- You lost the crown and cannot find it
Call right away if:
- The tooth under the crown broke or chipped
- You have severe pain, swelling or a bad taste
Seek emergency medical care if you think you inhaled the crown, or you are coughing, wheezing or short of breath after losing it.
Our emergency dentist page explains how we handle urgent visits, and our dental crowns page covers the full process.
Frequently asked questions
Can I leave my temporary crown off for a few days?
It is best not to. Without the temporary, the prepared tooth can become sensitive, and nearby teeth can shift slightly, which can make the permanent crown harder to fit. Put it back with temporary dental cement if you can, and call your dentist to have it checked or re-cemented within a day or two.
Can I use superglue on a temporary crown?
No. Superglue and other household glues can bond the crown in the wrong position, irritate the gums, trap bacteria under the crown and make it very hard for your dentist to remove. Use temporary dental cement from a pharmacy instead, or leave the crown out and call your dentist.
Does a tooth hurt without a temporary crown?
It might. A tooth prepared for a crown has had some of its outer layer removed, so it can feel sensitive to hot, cold, sweet foods or air. Some people feel little or nothing. Putting the temporary back on, using a sensitive toothpaste and avoiding temperature extremes can help until your appointment.
What if I swallowed my temporary crown?
If you swallowed it and feel fine, it will usually pass on its own, but call your dentist so they can make a new temporary. If you think you inhaled it, or you are coughing, wheezing or having trouble breathing, seek emergency medical care right away.
How long does a temporary crown last?
A temporary crown is designed to last only until your permanent crown is ready, usually a matter of weeks. In some treatment plans, such as during root canal or implant care, a temporary may stay in longer. It is made of softer material with weaker cement, so it is not meant to be a long-term solution.
Can a dentist reuse my crown?
Often, yes. If the temporary crown is intact and still fits, your dentist can clean it and re-cement it. If it cracked or no longer fits, they can make a new one quickly. A permanent crown that came off can also sometimes be re-cemented, depending on the condition of the tooth underneath.
Need your crown re-cemented?
A loose or lost crown is usually a quick fix. If you are in or around Washington, PA, you can request an appointment at Enhanced Wellness or call us at (724) 225-5070 and let us know what happened.
Sources
- NHS Wales, Primary Care One. Lost crown? Patient guidance.
- Dental Update. Provisional restorations: a permanent problem?
Temporary crown came off?
A loose or lost crown is usually a quick fix. Call us, tell us what happened, and Dr. Liza will get the tooth protected and the crown back on track. Ask about same-day crowns if you would rather skip the temporary next time.
Dr. Elizabeth Wakim, DDS, is the founder of Enhanced Wellness. She’s a compassionate and highly-regarded dentist with her own practice in Washington, Pennsylvania, known for providing modern, comprehensive dental care, botox and facial aesthetics with a focus on patient comfort and anxiety reduction, serving general, cosmetic, and pediatric dentistry needs.
