What to Do if a Filling or Crown Falls Out

If a tooth filling fell out or you have a lost crown, save the piece, rinse your mouth, avoid chewing on that tooth and call your dentist within a day or two. Most lost fillings and crowns are urgent rather than emergencies. Call the same day if the tooth hurts, has a sharp edge or the face is swelling.

Key Takeaways

• When a filling or crown falls out, keep the piece in a clean container, rinse gently and call a dentist; do not wait for your next checkup.
• A lost filling or crown with no pain can usually be seen within a few days, but pain, a sharp edge, swelling or a broken tooth make it a same-day call.
• Drugstore temporary dental cement can cover an exposed tooth or hold a crown briefly, but it is not a repair; never use superglue or household adhesives.
• A crown that comes off in one piece may or may not go back on, depending on whether it still fits and whether the tooth underneath is healthy.
• A lost crown on its own is rarely a hospital problem; call 911 only for trouble breathing, spreading swelling or a crown that may have been inhaled.

What to do right away if a tooth filling fell out

A filling is material placed in a tooth to restore an area lost to decay or damage. A crown is a cap that covers the whole visible part of a weakened tooth. When either comes off, the tooth underneath is exposed and usually weaker than the teeth around it.

Take these steps first:

1. Take it out of your mouth. If you feel something hard while eating, spit it out so you do not swallow it.
2. Keep the piece. Rinse a crown gently with water, hold it by the outside, and store it in a clean container or zip bag. A filling usually comes out in small bits and cannot be reused, but keep any large pieces.
3. Rinse your mouth. Swish with warm water, or warm salt water, to clear food from the open area.
4. Look, but do not poke. Check whether a piece of tooth broke off too. Do not dig at the tooth with a toothpick or sharp object.
5. Protect the tooth. Chew on the other side, and cover a sharp edge with dental wax if it is rubbing your tongue.
6. Call the dental office. Say whether it was a filling or a crown, whether you still have it, and whether it hurts.

If pain is bothering you, over-the-counter pain relief such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen may help when it is safe for you and used as the label directs. Do not place aspirin on the gum, which can burn the tissue.

Why fillings and crowns come loose

Fillings and crowns are strong, but they do not last forever. Common reasons they come loose include:

• Decay under or around the restoration. New decay can form at the edges and weaken the tooth beneath, so the filling or crown loses its grip. This is one of the most common causes, and often the reason a lost filling had no warning signs.
• Wear and tear. Years of chewing can wear down the bond or the cement holding a crown.
• Sticky or hard foods. Toffee, caramel, chewy candy, ice and hard nuts can pull out or crack a restoration.
• Grinding and clenching. Night-time grinding puts heavy force on fillings and crowns.
• A fracture in the tooth. Sometimes the tooth itself breaks, and the filling or crown comes away with it.
• A temporary crown. Temporary crowns are designed to be removed and are held with weaker cement, so they come off more easily.

Knowing the cause matters. A crown that came off because of new decay usually cannot simply be glued back; the decay has to be treated first.

How urgent is a lost filling or lost crown?

Use the table as a guide. When you are unsure, call and describe what you notice.

What happened	How soon to call	Why
Small filling fell out, no pain, no sharp edge	Within a few days	The tooth is exposed and can decay or chip further
Filling fell out and the tooth is sensitive or sore	Same day	The exposed tooth may be close to the nerve
Lost crown, no pain, you have the crown	Within a day or two	The sooner it is checked, the more likely it may still fit
Temporary crown fell off	Same day or next business day	The prepared tooth is sensitive and neighbouring teeth can shift
A piece of tooth broke with the filling or crown	Same day	The tooth may need more than a replacement filling
Sharp edge cutting your tongue or cheek	Same day	Soft tissue can be injured
Swelling, a bad taste, pus or fever	Same day	These can be signs of infection
Trouble breathing, spreading facial swelling or a possibly inhaled crown	Call 911	These are medical emergencies

"Filling fell out, no pain" is a common search, and it is reasonable to feel less worried. But lack of pain does not mean the tooth is safe. An open cavity collects food and bacteria, and the thin walls left behind can crack under normal chewing. Leaving it for weeks can turn a simple repair into a larger one.

Temporary fixes that are safe, and ones that are not

Safe short-term options

• Temporary dental cement or filling material. Most drugstores sell over-the-counter kits. Landmark Dental Care's emergency guidance notes these can temporarily secure a crown or cover the space left by a filling until you see a dentist. Follow the package directions exactly and use only a small amount.
• Dental wax or orthodontic wax to cover a sharp edge.
• Salt-water rinses to keep the area clean and comfortable.

Putting a crown back on temporarily

If a crown comes off whole and you cannot be seen right away, some people use temporary dental cement to hold it in place for a short time. Before you try:

• clean the inside of the crown gently and check that no food or old cement is stuck in it;
• try it on without cement to make sure it seats fully and your bite feels normal;
• use only dental-specific temporary cement, a very thin layer;
• bite gently to seat it, then remove extra cement;
• if the crown does not seat easily, or your bite feels high, take it off and store it instead.

When in doubt, call the office first. A crown seated at the wrong angle can trap debris, irritate the gum or crack the tooth. Leaving it out and bringing it in is always a safe choice.

What not to use

• Superglue, craft glue or epoxy. These can damage the tooth, the gum and the crown, and may make it impossible to reuse the crown.
• Denture adhesive, which is not designed to hold a crown.
• Chewing gum stuck into a cavity for days at a time.
• Long-term reliance on temporary cement. Temporary products are meant for days, not weeks.

What to eat and avoid until your visit

Until the tooth is assessed:

• chew on the other side;
• choose soft foods such as soup, eggs, yogurt, pasta, cooked vegetables and fish;
• avoid sticky foods such as caramel, toffee, gummy candy and chewing gum, which can pull out temporary material or a loose crown;
• avoid hard foods such as ice, hard candy, popcorn kernels and hard nuts;
• avoid very hot or very cold drinks if the tooth is sensitive;
• limit sugary snacks and drinks, which feed decay in the open tooth;
• brush gently around the tooth and clean between teeth carefully.

If the temporary material comes out while you wait, call the office rather than trying household fixes.

What the dentist may do next

The dentist will examine the tooth, check your bite and look at the crown or pieces you brought. Digital X-rays may be taken if there could be decay under the old restoration, a crack or a problem near the root.

Depending on what is found, the dentist may discuss:

• A new filling after cleaning the tooth, often with tooth-coloured composite;
• Recementing the original crown, if it still fits well and the tooth under it is healthy;
• A new crown, if the old one no longer fits or the tooth has changed; a temporary crown is usually placed while the new one is made;
• An inlay or onlay for a back tooth that has lost too much structure for a simple filling;
• Root canal treatment, if the nerve is inflamed or infected;
• Extraction, if the tooth cannot be predictably restored, followed by a discussion of replacement options such as a bridge or implant crown.

The number of visits and the cost depend on what the dentist finds, and the office can give you an estimate before work begins. Our guide to how dental crowns are used explains what a crown does and when it is recommended. If a piece of tooth broke off with the restoration, see our guide to a broken tooth.

Special situations

A temporary crown fell off

A temporary crown protects a tooth that has been shaped for a permanent crown. If it comes off, call the office the same day or the next business day. Without it, the tooth can be sensitive and the teeth beside or opposite can shift slightly, which can affect the fit of the final crown. Keep the temporary and bring it in.

A swallowed or inhaled crown

Swallowing a crown or filling is usually less serious than it sounds, but tell your dentist and ask your doctor or call 811 if you have any stomach pain or other concerns. If you are coughing, wheezing, short of breath or feel something stuck in your throat or chest, the crown may have been inhaled, so call 911.

Children

A filling that falls out of a child's tooth, baby or permanent, still needs to be checked, because children's teeth have thinner enamel and decay can spread quickly. In Nova Scotia, the provincial Children's Oral Health Program covers fillings and necessary extractions for children aged 14 and younger with a valid health card.

Pregnancy and medical conditions

Tell the dental team if you are pregnant, have diabetes, have a weakened immune system or take blood thinners. These can affect how quickly you should be seen and what is safe for pain relief.

Seniors and people with many restorations

Older fillings and crowns are more likely to fail, often without pain. Regular checkups and X-rays when indicated let your dentist spot a leaking or worn restoration before it comes out.

Getting a lost filling or crown seen in Truro

For a lost filling or crown, call Landmark Dental Care at 902-893-2919. The practice is at 125 Queen St in downtown Truro and is open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm, serving Truro, Bible Hill and communities across Colchester County. Restorative work such as fillings, crowns, inlays, onlays, bridges and implant crowns is a special area of interest for the practice. Learn more on the emergency dentistry page.

If a crown comes off on a Friday evening and nothing hurts, keep it safe, eat carefully over the weekend and call first thing Monday. If you develop pain you cannot manage, call 811 for nurse advice at any hour.

For a medical emergency, such as trouble breathing, spreading facial swelling or a possibly inhaled crown, call 911 or go to the Emergency Department at the Colchester East Hants Health Centre, 600 Abenaki Road, Truro, which is open 24 hours.

For questions about coverage, including the Canadian Dental Care Plan, call the office to confirm current participation and billing, and see our CDCP page. If you have private dental insurance, the office can help check your coverage when you call.

FAQ

My tooth filling fell out but there is no pain. Can I wait?

You can usually wait a few days, but not weeks. The open tooth can decay or crack even without pain, so book an appointment soon and call sooner if it becomes sensitive or sharp.

Can I glue my crown back on?

Do not use superglue or household glue. Drugstore temporary dental cement can hold a crown for a short time if it fits properly, but it is only a stopgap, and your dentist should check the tooth and recement or replace the crown.

What should I do with a lost crown?

Rinse it, store it in a clean container and bring it to your appointment. If it still fits and the tooth under it is healthy, your dentist may be able to recement it.

Is a lost filling a dental emergency?

A lost filling is usually urgent rather than an emergency. It becomes a same-day problem if you have pain, a sharp edge, swelling or a broken piece of tooth.

What happens if a temporary crown falls off?

Call the office the same day or the next business day and keep the temporary. Leaving the prepared tooth uncovered can cause sensitivity and let nearby teeth shift, which can affect how the final crown fits.

Next step

If a filling or crown has come loose or fallen out, call Landmark Dental Care for urgent dental concerns at 902-893-2919, or visit us at 125 Queen St, Truro. You can also reach us through our contact page. For difficulty breathing or swallowing, severe facial swelling or a crown that may have been inhaled, call 911 or go to the Colchester East Hants Health Centre emergency department.

References

• ADA MouthHealthy: Crowns
• ADA MouthHealthy: Dental Filling Options
• ADA MouthHealthy: Dental Emergencies
• Government of Nova Scotia: 811 Health Advice
• Nova Scotia Health: Colchester East Hants Health Centre
• Government of Nova Scotia: Children's Oral Health Program

This article provides general educational information and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for care from a dentist or other qualified health professional.