If your temporary crown came off, it is usually not a same day emergency, but it should not be left off for more than about 48 hours. The prepared tooth underneath is uncovered dentine, so it can become sensitive quickly. More importantly, the teeth either side and the tooth biting against it can start to drift within days. If that happens, the permanent crown that has already been made may no longer fit, which can mean fresh impressions, another temporary and a longer wait.
So the goal in the first day or two is simple. Protect the tooth, keep the temporary safe, and get in to have it recemented.
Key takeaways
- A loose or lost temporary crown is usually urgent within a day or two, not within the hour.
- Teeth can drift in days, and drifting is the main reason a permanent crown stops fitting.
- Keep the temporary. If it is intact, it can often be recemented rather than remade.
- Over the counter temporary dental cement can hold it in the short term. Household superglue never should be used in the mouth.
- Throbbing pain, swelling, a bad taste or fever means call the same day.
- A temporary that keeps coming off can be a sign of decay underneath or a poor fit, and should be looked at rather than repeatedly reglued.
What to do in the first hour
Work through these steps calmly. Most people can manage this at home until they can be seen.
1. Find the crown
Retrieve it if you can. A temporary crown is usually made of acrylic or a similar tooth coloured material, and it can often be cleaned and put back on. If it has been swallowed, that is not usually dangerous, but let the practice know so a replacement can be planned. If you think you may have inhaled it, or you have coughing or breathing difficulty, that is a medical emergency and needs urgent care.
2. Check it for damage
Look at the crown under a good light. Is it in one piece, or is it cracked or chipped? A crown in one piece can often be recemented. A broken one usually needs remaking, so it helps the practice to know before you arrive.
3. Rinse gently
Rinse the crown and your mouth with warm water. Do not scrub the inside of the crown with anything abrasive, and do not try to pick out old cement with a sharp object. Store the crown in a small clean container, not loose in a pocket or wrapped in a tissue where it can be thrown out.
4. Phone the practice
Describe what happened, whether the crown is intact, and whether you have pain. That lets the team judge how quickly you need to be seen and how much time to set aside.
Can you put a temporary crown back on yourself?
Sometimes, and only as a short term measure. If the crown is intact and it seats fully back over the tooth without force, a small amount of over the counter temporary dental cement from a pharmacy can hold it until your appointment. A very small amount of denture adhesive can also work in a pinch. Dry the tooth first, put a thin layer inside the crown, seat it, bite gently, and remove any cement that squeezes out around the gum.
Two rules matter here. First, never use household superglue, contact adhesive or any product not made for the mouth. These are toxic to the pulp, can bond the crown in the wrong position and can make removal difficult or damaging. Second, if the crown does not seat fully and easily, stop. Forcing it on at an angle can put it in the wrong place and irritate the gum.
If there is any chance of swallowing or inhaling a loose temporary while you sleep, take it out before bed and keep it safe in its container.
How to look after the prepared tooth
The tooth underneath a temporary has been reshaped, so the outer enamel has largely been removed and the dentine is exposed. That is why cold drinks and even a sharp intake of cold air can make it twinge. This sensitivity is expected and usually settles once the tooth is covered again.
- Chew on the other side until the crown is recemented.
- Avoid sticky and chewy foods that pull a temporary off: toffee, chewing gum, caramels, crusty bread and hard nuts.
- Brush the area gently with a soft brush. Do not skip it, because plaque at the gum margin makes the gum bleed and swell, which makes recementing harder.
- Floss carefully. Slide the floss in, then pull it out sideways rather than snapping it back up through the contact, which is what lifts a temporary off.
- A sensitive toothpaste can help settle short term cold sensitivity while you wait.
If the exposed tooth is very sensitive, over the counter pain relief used according to the packet can help in the meantime. Persistent, severe or spontaneous pain is a different matter and is covered below.
Symptoms and what to do next
Use this as a quick guide to how urgently to act.
| What you are experiencing | What it usually means | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Crown is off but intact, tooth is comfortable | Cement has failed, tooth is fine | Keep the crown safe, avoid that side, book within 48 hours |
| Crown lost or swallowed | A new temporary will likely be needed | Phone the practice, book promptly so teeth do not drift |
| Sharp zing to cold or air, settles quickly | Exposed dentine on the prepared tooth | Normal while uncovered. Sensitive toothpaste, book within 48 hours |
| Throbbing, lingering pain, pain waking you at night | The nerve may be inflamed or infected | Same day call |
| Swelling, bad taste, fever, difficulty swallowing | Possible infection | Same day call. Facial swelling or trouble breathing means urgent care |
| Third time the temporary has come off | Possible decay underneath, short tooth or poor fit | Ask for an assessment, not just another recement |
Why a temporary keeps coming off
In my experience, a temporary that will not stay put is telling you something. The common reasons are a very short prepared tooth with little surface for the cement to grip, a temporary that does not fit closely enough at the margins, heavy or grinding forces on that tooth, or new decay under the temporary that keeps breaking the seal. Sticky foods and flossing upwards through the contact also do their share.
Repeated recementing without working out why is the wrong path. Sometimes the fix is a better fitting temporary, sometimes it is treating decay that has been found underneath, and occasionally the tooth needs more length created before a crown will hold. If a tooth has become painful during the crown process, it is worth reading about root canal symptoms under a crown and about decay under a dental crown, because the signs overlap.
What happens at the appointment
Typically the visit is short. The team will clean the old cement off the tooth and the inside of the temporary, check the fit and the bite, look for decay at the margin and check the gum health around the tooth. If the temporary is intact and the tooth is healthy, it is recemented. If it is broken or has distorted, a new temporary can usually be made at the same visit.
If the tooth has drifted a little, the permanent crown may still fit with minor adjustment. If drifting has been significant, a new impression or scan may be needed. That is the practical reason not to sit on a lost temporary for a fortnight.
You may also be numbed for comfort if the prepared tooth is very sensitive. If you have had numbing before and wondered how long it lingers, this guide to dental numbness covers what to expect.
Frequently asked questions
How long can I leave a temporary crown off?
Aim for no more than about 48 hours. Beyond that, sensitivity increases and neighbouring and opposing teeth can begin to move, which risks the fit of the permanent crown.
Is a temporary crown coming off an emergency?
Usually not a same day emergency on its own. It becomes urgent if there is throbbing pain, swelling, a bad taste, fever, or if you cannot get the tooth covered within a couple of days.
Can I use superglue to stick my temporary crown back on?
No. Household adhesives are not made for the mouth, can harm the nerve of the tooth and can set the crown in the wrong position. Pharmacy temporary dental cement is the appropriate short term option.
What if I swallowed my temporary crown?
It usually passes without trouble. Let the practice know so a replacement can be arranged. If you coughed at the time and have chest discomfort or breathing difficulty, seek urgent medical care in case it was inhaled.
Will it hurt to have the temporary put back on?
Usually not much. Cleaning the prepared tooth can be briefly sensitive, and numbing can be used if needed. Most recement visits are quick.
Should I still floss around a temporary crown?
Yes, but change the technique. Slide the floss in gently and pull it out sideways rather than back up through the contact, which is the movement most likely to lift the crown off.
The takeaway
Keep the crown, keep off that side, keep it clean, and get it recemented within about two days. That short window protects the tooth from sensitivity and protects the fit of the crown you have already paid for and waited on. Call sooner if you have pain, swelling or a bad taste, and ask for a proper look rather than another quick reglue if the temporary keeps failing.
If you would like the tooth checked and a plan explained in plain language, the team at Lumi Dental in Melrose Park can assess it and provide a written quote before anything is booked. You can also see what is currently available on the current deals page. Lumi Dental is open Monday to Saturday, with Sunday by appointment.
This article is general information only and is not a substitute for an examination and personal advice.
