Question: What does it mean when a crown feels loose?
Explanation: A loose crown moves or lifts slightly when pressed or when eating sticky food. It signals that the cement seal has failed. Once the seal breaks, bacteria and saliva reach the tooth stump beneath, and decay develops rapidly in that warm, sealed, unreachable space. A loose crown should be assessed promptly, before it comes off entirely and is swallowed or inhaled. Do not attempt to glue it. If the underlying tooth is sound, the crown may be recemented. If decay has set in, remaking is required.
Related Questions:
Why is a loose crown urgent even though it does not hurt?
Because bacteria are now sitting on unprotected dentine in a sealed, moist environment. Decay progresses far faster there than on an exposed surface. A crown that could have been recemented in one visit becomes a root canal and a new crown within months.
Can I glue my crown back on myself?
No. Household adhesives are toxic, are not designed for the oral environment, and set irreversibly with the crown in the wrong position. This frequently ruins an otherwise recementable crown. Temporary dental cement from a pharmacy is acceptable for a few days only.
Will a loose crown eventually fall off?
Almost always, and often at the least convenient moment, such as while eating. There is a risk of swallowing or, rarely, inhaling it. Addressing looseness while the crown is still in place gives the dentist a far better chance of saving it.
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