Lost a Filling or Crown? How to Protect Your Tooth Until Your Visit

If a filling or crown comes out, save any pieces, rinse your mouth gently, and call your dentist. Until you’re seen, keep the area clean, chew on the other side, and avoid very hot, cold, or sweet foods. A lost crown can sometimes be placed back temporarily with dental cement from a pharmacy, but never with superglue.

If you’ve lost a filling or crown, you’re not alone. It usually happens at the worst time: biting into something chewy, and suddenly there’s something hard on your tongue. Losing a filling or crown is rarely an emergency, but the tooth underneath is more exposed than usual, so it’s best to get it taken care of soon.

The Bottom Line

Figure out what came out: a small piece (filling) or a whole tooth-shaped cap (crown).
Save it in a clean container or zip-top bag and bring it to your visit.
Keep the area clean and chew on the other side.
Temporary dental cement from a pharmacy can help for a short time. Don’t use household glue.
Call your dentist within a day or two, or sooner if you have pain, swelling, or a sharp broken edge.

Filling or Crown: How to Tell

A filling is material placed inside a tooth to repair a cavity. When it comes out, you’ll usually find a small, hard piece (silver-gray or tooth-colored) and feel a hole or rough spot in the tooth.
A crown is a cap that covers the whole visible part of the tooth. When it comes off, you’ll have a hollow, tooth-shaped shell in your hand, and the tooth underneath may look smaller or darker than you expect.

Either way, look at the tooth in a mirror and check for broken edges. If part of the tooth itself broke off, mention that when you call.

What to Do Right Away

Remove the piece from your mouth so you don’t swallow or choke on it.
Rinse gently with warm salt water (half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water).
Save the filling or crown. Rinse it, let it dry, and keep it in a small container or bag.
Check for pain or sensitivity. Some sensitivity to air, cold, or sweets is common.
Call your dentist to schedule a visit.

Swallowed it? Don’t panic. Most people pass a swallowed crown or filling without problems. If you start coughing hard, wheezing, or have trouble breathing, it may have gone into your airway, so get medical care right away.

Protecting the Tooth Until Your Visit

If you lost a filling

Keep the area clean by brushing gently and rinsing after meals.
Use temporary filling material from a pharmacy to cover the hole, following the package directions. It isn’t a long-term fix, but it can reduce sensitivity and keep food out.
Chew on the other side and avoid sticky, hard, or very sweet foods.

For more, see what to do if a dental filling falls out.

If you lost a crown

Clean the inside of the crown gently and check that the tooth is clean.
Try the crown on without any cement first to see if it fits easily. If it doesn’t, don’t force it.
If it fits, you can use a small amount of temporary dental cement from a pharmacy to hold it until your visit. Bite gently to seat it, then remove any extra.
Never use superglue or household adhesives. They can damage the tooth and the crown and make it harder to fix.
If you can’t place it back, keep it safe and protect the tooth by avoiding chewing on that side.

For more detail, read crown fell off? What to do right now.

For any sensitivity

An over-the-counter pain reliever, taken as the label directs, can help. Toothpaste for sensitive teeth may also take the edge off. Don’t put aspirin directly on the gum.

When to Call Sooner

Call right away if you have:

Pain that’s getting worse or keeping you up at night
Swelling in the gum, cheek, or jaw
A broken tooth or a sharp edge that’s cutting your tongue or cheek
A front tooth that’s affecting your smile or speech

Go to the ER for trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or swelling that’s spreading quickly.

Why Not Wait?

A missing filling or crown leaves the tooth more exposed. Over time, food and bacteria can lead to new decay, the tooth can crack or break, and a tooth that could have been an easy fix may need more involved treatment. A prompt visit usually keeps things simpler.

What the Dentist Will Do

The dentist will examine the tooth, check for new decay or damage, and often take an X-ray. Then they’ll explain the options, which may include:

Re-cementing your crown if it and the tooth are in good shape
A new filling, often a tooth-colored composite filling
A new crown if the tooth needs more protection. In some cases, a same-day CEREC crown may be an option.
Other treatment, such as a root canal, if the nerve is affected

Learn more about our care for crowns that have come off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a lost filling or crown an emergency?
Usually it’s urgent, not an emergency. Call within a day or two, or sooner if you have pain or swelling.

Can I glue my crown back on?
Only with temporary dental cement made for teeth, and only if it fits easily. Never use superglue.

Can my old crown be reused?
Often, if the crown and the tooth underneath are in good shape. Bring it with you.

How long can I wait?
Try to be seen within a few days. The longer a tooth is unprotected, the higher the chance of more damage.

References

Lost a Filling or Crown? Call Us

If a filling or crown has come out, call Urgent Dental at (702) 228-1106. We offer same-day appointments when available. Our office hours are Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5 PM. Outside those hours, an after-hours visit may be possible only if a doctor is available, and an after-hours fee applies. Learn more about our emergency dental services, or request an appointment.

Urgent Dental
340 E Warm Springs Rd STE 100, Las Vegas, NV 89119
(702) 228-1106

This article is for general information and isn’t a substitute for professional dental or medical advice.