Crown Fell Off? What to Do and How Long You Can Wait

It usually happens over something small. A bite of caramel, a handful of popcorn, and suddenly there is a rough, open space where your tooth used to be and a little cap sitting in your palm.

Take a breath. A crown that fell off is fixable in many cases, and what you do in the first hour matters. Here is what to do first, how long you can wait, and the signs that mean it cannot wait at all.

What should you do first when a crown falls off?

Keep the crown, rinse your mouth gently, protect the tooth and call your dentist. Those four steps cover the first hour. Here they are in order:

1. Find the crown and keep it.Even a damaged crown helps your dentist see what happened. Put it somewhere safe so you can bring it with you.
2. Rinse gently.Warm water is enough. There is no need for anything harsh.
3. Look at the tooth and the crown.Note any crack, chip or sharp edge, and whether anything hurts. Cleveland Clinic lists cracks, chips and sharp edges among the reasons to call a dentist about a crown.
4. Protect the tooth.Chew on the other side and stick to soft foods until you are seen. Cleveland Clinic says ice, hard nuts, popcorn kernels and sticky foods such as taffy and caramel can damage or dislodge a crown.
5. Leave the glue in the drawer.Household glue is not made for your mouth, and the tooth underneath needs a look before anything goes back on.
6. Call your dentist.The ADA says most dentists reserve time in their schedules for emergency patients. Call, say that a crown came off, and describe any pain or swelling.

Those details come from Cleveland Clinic’s guide to dental crowns and the ADA’s page on dental emergencies.

Is a crown that fell off a dental emergency?

Usually it is urgent rather than an emergency, but certain symptoms change that. A crown that came off with little or no pain can wait for the first available appointment. Swelling, fever, severe pain, or trouble breathing or swallowing cannot.

Signs to call a dentist today

MedlinePlus describes the signs of a tooth infection: a severe, constant toothache, a bitter taste or bad breath, fever, swelling of the gum that may look like a pimple, and swollen glands in the neck. It says untreated abscesses can lead to life-threatening complications, so any of these after a crown comes off deserves a same-day call. The ADA says that with a dental emergency you should visit your dentist or an emergency room as soon as possible.

Signs to go to an emergency room

Trouble breathing or swallowing means the emergency room, not a dental appointment. So does a swollen jaw that is getting worse, which MedlinePlus calls a very serious symptom. Details on the signs are in its tooth abscess guide.

What to say when you call

Keep it short and specific: a crown came off, when it happened, whether you have it with you, whether the crown is permanent or temporary, and whether you have any pain or swelling. If you can, mention what you were eating. It sounds like a small detail, but it helps the office judge what happened and how soon to see you.

If you cannot reach your dentist

Call anyway and leave a clear message. The ADA advises giving as much detail as possible about your condition, and that detail helps the office decide how fast to see you. If your symptoms are on the emergency list above, do not wait for a call back. Go to the emergency room, and book the dental visit afterward.

How long can you wait to get a crown put back on?

As short a time as you can manage. There is no number of days that is safe for everyone, because it depends on what is under the crown.

What you can say for sure is that your own tooth is uncovered. MedlinePlus explains that openings in a tooth’s enamel let bacteria reach the center of the tooth, and it advises having a dentist examine any broken or chipped tooth right away. Cleveland Clinic adds that a crown that does not fit properly can trap bacteria and lead to decay, which is one reason a dentist checks the tooth before a crown goes back on.

What if it was a temporary crown?

Call anyway. Cleveland Clinic says temporary crowns, usually made of resin or acrylic, are placed while a dental lab makes your final crown, which usually takes two to three weeks and sometimes longer. A temporary that comes off still needs attention, so your dentist can re-seat it or check on the status of the permanent one.

Why do crowns fall off?

Usually it comes down to food, fit or the tooth underneath. Cleveland Clinic names ice, hard nuts, popcorn kernels and sticky foods as things that can pull a crown off, and says a crown that does not fit properly can trap bacteria and lead to decay.

Age plays a part too. Crowns are durable but not indestructible. Cleveland Clinic gives an average lifespan of five to 15 years, and says a crown that is cracked or damaged may need to be replaced sooner. Our crowns and bridges page says the same thing plainly: crowns and bridges can sometimes fall out or become damaged and need replacing.

What will the dentist do about a crown that fell off?

Your dentist will look at two things, the crown and the tooth under it, and then decide whether the crown can go back on or has to be remade. If the crown is intact and the tooth is healthy, re-cementing may be an option. If the tooth has decay or damage, it may need treatment first and the crown may need replacing.

When a crown cannot go back on

Sometimes the tooth is too far gone for a crown to do the job. Cleveland Clinic notes that when a tooth is badly decayed or broken, a crown may not give a predictable result, and your dentist may suggest removing the tooth and replacing it with an implant. That is a conversation to have with a dentist who has looked at the X-rays.

If you need a new crown

Love To Smile makes same-day CEREC crowns. We scan the tooth digitally, design the crown on screen, mill it in our office and bond it in one visit. Whether your tooth is a good match for that is something we can tell once we have seen it.

How urgent is your crown? A two-minute checklist

Tick what applies to you right now. One result says this can wait for a normal appointment, because many crowns that come off are exactly that.

How can you keep a crown from coming off again?

Protect it from the foods that pull it off and keep the tooth healthy underneath. Cleveland Clinic’s care advice is simple: brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and a soft brush, floss daily, avoid extremely hard, crunchy or chewy foods, and keep up with cleanings and exams.

If you grind or clench your teeth, Cleveland Clinic suggests asking your dentist about a custom mouth guard. We make custom mouth guards, and our guide to the signs you are grinding your teeth at night explains what to look for. If replacing a crown is a worry for your budget, our guide to waiting on a crown walks through your choices.

Common questions

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