Question: What should I do if my crown comes off?
Explanation: A lost crown leaves the prepared tooth stump exposed. It may be highly sensitive, particularly if the tooth is still vital. Retrieve the crown, rinse it, and keep it safe. Do not throw it away, as it can often be recemented. Clean the tooth stump gently and keep it free of food. Temporary dental cement is available from pharmacies to hold the crown in place for a few days. See a dentist within a week. Left uncovered, the stump can drift, decay, or fracture.
Related Questions:
Can a lost crown be recemented, or do I need a new one?
If the crown is intact, the underlying tooth is sound, and it has not been damaged during removal, recementing is usually possible. Decay beneath the crown, a fractured tooth stump, or a distorted crown means a new one is required.
What if I swallowed my crown?
In most cases it passes through the digestive tract uneventfully within a few days. Contact your doctor if you have abdominal pain. Inhalation, signalled by coughing or breathing difficulty at the time, is a medical emergency requiring an urgent chest radiograph.
Why is my tooth so sensitive without the crown?
The prepared stump is largely exposed dentine, which is densely packed with tubules connecting to the pulp. Every stimulus reaches the nerve. Temporary cement or even a temporary crown resolves the sensitivity immediately by sealing those tubules.
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