If your dental crown just fell off, the first thing to do is find it and keep it. In many cases, your dentist can reattach the same crown, saving you hundreds or thousands of dollars on a replacement. Until you get to the dentist, you can temporarily reseat it yourself and protect the exposed tooth with a few simple steps.
Retrieve the Crown and Clean It
Don’t throw the crown away, and don’t swallow it. If it loosens while you’re eating, try to remove it from your mouth before you accidentally swallow or inhale it. Once you have it, gently rinse the inside with warm water and a bit of toothpaste to clear out any old cement or food debris. Pat it dry and store it in a small container or zip-lock bag so you can bring it to your dentist.
If you do swallow the crown, don’t panic. In most cases it passes through your digestive system without causing harm. The real danger is inhaling it into your airway. If you experience any difficulty breathing, coughing fits, or a choking sensation after losing a crown, that’s an emergency and you need to call 911 or get to an ER immediately.
Temporarily Reattach the Crown
Some dentists recommend placing the crown back on the exposed tooth as a temporary measure. You can pick up temporary dental cement at most pharmacies and grocery stores. Apply a thin layer inside the crown, then gently press it back into place over the tooth stub. Bite down lightly to seat it.
If you can’t find dental cement right away, toothpaste or even sugar-free gum can work as a short-term placeholder to keep the crown in position. None of these are permanent fixes. They’re meant to protect the tooth for a day or two until your dentist can properly reattach it. If the crown doesn’t fit back on easily or the tooth underneath is broken, skip this step and just keep the crown safe.
Protect the Exposed Tooth
The tooth underneath a crown has been filed down to make room for the cap, so it’s smaller, weaker, and often sensitive. Until your dental appointment, treat it carefully. Chew only on the opposite side of your mouth and stick to soft, lukewarm foods. Scrambled eggs, yogurt, soup, mashed potatoes, and smoothies are all safe choices.
Avoid anything that could damage or irritate the exposed tooth:
- Hard or crunchy foods: nuts, popcorn, ice, raw carrots, hard-crust bread
- Sticky or chewy foods: caramel, taffy, chewing gum, dried fruits, jerky
- Sugary or acidic foods: soda, sports drinks, citrus fruits
Brush gently around the area. The tooth may feel sharp or sensitive to temperature, which is normal. Cut food into small pieces and take your time eating.
Get to a Dentist Quickly
Call your dentist as soon as possible, ideally the same day the crown comes off. If the crown is intact and the underlying tooth is healthy, your dentist can often clean it and recement it in a single short visit. This is a straightforward procedure and far less expensive than getting a new crown made.
If the tooth underneath has new decay, is cracked, or the crown itself is damaged, you may need a replacement. Without insurance, a new crown typically costs between $800 and $2,500 depending on the material. Porcelain fused to metal crowns average around $1,100, while all-ceramic or zirconia crowns average about $1,300. Dental insurance usually covers a portion, though many plans have waiting periods or annual caps.
Why Crowns Come Loose
Understanding why it happened can help you prevent it from happening again. The most common reasons include:
Cement breakdown. The adhesive holding the crown in place gradually weakens over years of chewing, temperature changes, and exposure to saliva. This is the most common reason crowns eventually loosen, especially on older restorations.
Decay underneath the crown. Plaque can build up along the gum line where the crown meets the tooth. Over time, bacteria work their way under the edge and cause decay that undermines the fit. This is why flossing around crowned teeth matters just as much as flossing anywhere else.
Poor fit or grinding. A crown that doesn’t align properly with your bite takes uneven force every time you chew. Teeth grinding (especially at night) accelerates wear on the crown and the cement holding it. If you grind your teeth, a night guard can protect both natural teeth and dental work.
Trauma. A blow to the face from a fall, sports injury, or accident can knock a crown loose regardless of how well it was placed. No crown is indestructible.
Age. Crowns are durable but not permanent. Porcelain crowns in particular wear down from years of normal biting and chewing. Most crowns last 10 to 15 years, though some hold up much longer with good care.
What Happens at the Dentist
Your dentist will examine the exposed tooth and the crown itself. If both are in good shape, the visit is quick: they’ll clean the tooth, apply fresh cement, press the crown back into place, and check your bite. You can eat normally within an hour or two.
If there’s decay under the crown, the dentist will need to remove it before reattaching or replacing the crown. In some cases, if the remaining tooth structure is too small to support a crown, you may need a post built up inside the tooth first. For teeth that are severely damaged or infected, a root canal or extraction might be necessary before any new crown work begins. Your dentist will walk you through the options based on what they find.