Temporary crown fell out? Temporary crown fell off? Here’s what to do
Temporary crown fell out and not sure what to do? It is a common problem for someone getting a dental crown, and in most cases it is not a dental emergency. You can fix it yourself but it is not always easy.
Your temporary crown fell out and you want to know what to do, right?
This is a common occurrence with temporary dental crowns. We design temporary crowns to protect your tooth while your permanent crown is being made. A temporary crown will have temporary cement that is intentionally weaker than the permanent cement.
Why did my temporary crown fall out?
Sometimes it has more to do with how much of your tooth is left versus anything you did. However there are several things that will increase the likelhood of a temporary crown coming off and they include:
- Eating sticky foods like caramel, taffy, or chewing gum
- Eating hard or crunchy foods
- Teeth grinding or clenching
- Flossing upward instead of pulling the floss out from the side
What should I do? What temporary cement over the counter can I use?
Find a small sharpish metal tool and clean out the inside of the temporary to remove the white cement. The cement is usually white and there is usually some left on the inside of the crown but it may also be on your tooth still. Once the inside of the crown is cleanish, try it back on. If it fits back onto the tooth easily, you may be able to temporarily place it back on the tooth using temporary dental cement available at most pharmacies. Any dental temporary cement will do and it is more about the delivery system and packaging than actual product. Do not use fixadent or denture adhesive, although that may work ok as well. Some temporary cements have you mix two things together. That may be more complicated but is often stronger for a temporary crown that fell out.
Never force the temporary crown into place. If it does not seat fully, try rotating the temporary crown and try again. If you can not get it to seat down then leave it out and call your dentist.
Can I leave the temporary crown off?
You can BUT –
- If the tooth is alive, it does not have a root canal, it may be sensitive. This will be more so to anything cold.
- The temporary crown helps prevent the tooth from shifting, and keeps the surrounding gum tissue in the proper shape. Even a small amount of tooth movement can make the permanent crown more difficult to seat properly. Your dentist may need to numb you and cut some gum tissue away. This can happen in as little as a day or two.
If your permanent crown appointment is within a day or two, the risk is generally low of anything bad happening so you probably ok.
What if I swallowed the temporary crown?
If you accidentally swallow your temporary crown it will pass naturally through the digestive system without causing problems. Did you choke on the temporary crown and are now having difficulty breathing? If so seek immediate medical attention, as it could have entered the airway instead of the stomach.
If my temporary crown fell out, can I use super glue inside of it?
NO! Household glues can damage the tooth or make it much more difficult for your dentist to replace the temporary crown. Only temporary dental cement should be used.
When should I call your dentist?
Contact your dentist as soon as you notice the temporary crown has come off. It really isn’t an emergency but they will probably want to see you to put it back on. You should also call immediately if:
- The tooth is painful.
- The tooth breaks.
- Your bite suddenly feels different.
At Bauer Dentistry and Orthodontics, we can replace a temporary crown the next business day.
