It’s the weekend, you’re having a great time with someone you love and are enjoying a nice dinner at a new restaurant when all of a sudden, your temporary crown or veneer pops off. You’re frantic, Googling your dentist or a local dentist’s number who hasn’t responded yet or is out of town. It’s also becoming really sensitive to breathe since the temporary isn’t on. What do you do?
Don’t panic. While it might be alarming that your temporary crown fell off, you have some options. Here are quick fixes to get you through until you can see your dentist and have it re-cemented.
Toothpaste
A quick and easy option to reinsert the crown is toothpaste, which you may even have with you. It’s quick and can also help with any sensitivity felt from having the temporary off the tooth. While readily available, toothpaste will most likely not hold if you try to chew or eat with the temporary in place.
Denture Adhesive
Another option is stopping at a local drug store and picking up a denture adhesive like Fixodent or Super Poligrip. The stickiness of this material provides a better hold than toothpaste to help keep the temporary in place.
Temporary Dental Cement
Your local pharmacy also carries dental cement or repair kits that, with a little finesse, can be used to hold the temporary crown in place until you see your dentist. Clean out the inside of your temporary as thoroughly as possible before application.
Why You Still Need to See Your Dentist Right Away
Although these are great options to get your temporary crown or veneer back in place, it is still urgent that you see your dentist as soon as possible to have it re-cemented or have the permanent crown or veneer placed. Leaving a temporary out of your mouth for a prolonged period can cause hypersensitivity on the tooth being worked on, shifting of adjacent teeth, or impingement of your gums — all of which can interfere with the reseating of the final crown or veneer.
Temporary Crown Fell Off — Frequently Asked Questions
Is it an emergency if my temporary crown falls off?
It is not usually a dental emergency, but it should be treated urgently. Try one of the options above to protect the tooth and call your dentist as soon as possible.
How long can I go without my temporary crown?
Try to see your dentist within a day or two. The longer the tooth is exposed, the higher the risk of sensitivity, shifting teeth, or complications when it’s time to place your permanent crown.
Thank you for your advice.
i had a left top post crown fell of and it was a around where i had a removable partial and i tempary put back on myself can i still wear my partial on top to hold it in or no?
I think I would still make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. Post & Core/crowns shouldn’t just fall off. Hope that helps!
Iim not lying it did a week ago, fell off while i was eating in my mouth ,, was wiggly for 2 months my the upper tooth right in my sinus area and its fallen off again and i went to a dentist ,i need alot more money to have it mabye be fixed , so im saving too go back but i dont know what to do ,,,this dental crown was put on over 7 yrs ago and the dentist office closed down 2 yrs ago ,what shud i do while i wait to be back in dentist chair with 200$ more dollars i need , i fear my recapit wont hold and il swallow my crown or if i leave it off il get a infectection , i have no tooth left i cant even see any bone but it did fit back on with temp cement i had for only 6 days , now its gona fall off again ! this is so stressful ,
I used Dental Cement it works…seeing dentist monday….hope he can remove the cemented crown without breaking it…only had perminent crown a couple months. 😤
i had a left top post crown fell of and it was a around where i had a removable partial and i tempary put back on myself can i still wear my partial on top to hold it in or no?
i’m having a couple of root canals finished off, and a couple of caps started. Sothe left side of my mouth was covered with the temporary covers.. Unfortunately, they all broke up and fell off between Tuesday,the 22nd and Wednesday the 23rd. It’s now Christmas Eve (Friday night),and i can’t get an appointment until Tuesday, I’ve been using orthodontic wax for the past 2 days, but my tongue is getting pretty beat up. Will any emergency dentists be open this weekend? Maybe?
Thanks for the tips, Dr. Katyal! Hope my temporary crown holds on my trip to England. Going to pick up some dental cement just in case. 😁 ~ Liz
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Great tips for handling a lost temporary crown! It’s so important to know what to do in these situations to avoid further discomfort or potential complications before you can see your dentist. At Smilecloud Family Dental, we always make sure our patients are aware of steps they can take if an issue arises outside office hours — especially with temporary crowns or fillings. Quick solutions like toothpaste or denture adhesive are great temporary fixes, but seeing your dentist soon is key to maintaining your dental health.
For those interested in proactive dental care and patient-centered service, feel free to check out Smilecloud Family Dental. Thanks for the helpful post!