How to Respond If You Lose a Dental Crown

June 12, 2025

Filed under: Uncategorized — kostas @ 11:25 am
A confused girl shrugging

A lost dental crown isn’t as bad as a knocked-out tooth, but it’s still something you should take seriously. The exposed area will otherwise face risks from bacteria, putting your oral health at risk. With that said, just how should you respond if you lose a dental crown? There’s no need to worry or wonder; your Burlington dentist has the answer for you. So, please keep reading to learn the steps you should take when you’ve lost a dental crown.

Locate the Lost Crown

First and foremost, you should try to locate the lost crown. Retrieving this cap would be the best for your tooth and your smile.

The truth is that a dentist could reapply your crown if it’s still viable. To do so, they’d just need to clean and refit the cap with dental cement. You’d need to ensure the crown isn’t damaged, though; you’ll likely need a new one if the original is broken.

Call a Qualified Dentist

While losing a dental crown isn’t always an emergency, it warrants a call to your local dentist. Failing to have it addressed will make the situation urgent.

You see, a tooth without its crown is in great danger. It’ll slowly get worn down by chewing forces, bacteria, and other factors as it lacks its cap. To that extent, delaying care could result in a deeper cavity or worse damage. You’ll want to call a dentist and book an early visit to avoid that outcome.

Try Re-Inserting the Crown

You may have to wait before seeing your dentist. Should that happen, try re-inserting the crown into its previous spot.

It’s surprisingly simple to re-insert a lost crown, all things considered. The first step is to clean its insides with toothpaste to remove debris. Once you’ve done so, just put a suitable dental adhesive on the crown to “glue” it to your tooth temporarily. (You could find such adhesive at a pharmacy or supermarket.)

Stay Cautious of Your Tooth

As you wait for treatment, your tooth will remain exposed and vulnerable. Therefore, be careful with it prior to your final treatment.

You can do several things to keep your exposed tooth safe. For instance, avoid chewing or eating with it for the time being; doing so would just cause further oral damage. You also shouldn’t have very hot or cold meals, as they’d likely reach your tooth’s nerve and cause pain.

Even if you lose a dental crown, the steps above will keep your smile safe. Just remember to see your dentist as soon as possible for further help!

About the Practice

Complete Dental Care is based in Burlington, MA. Led by Drs. Kostas and  Pereira, our practice (per its name) offers comprehensive dentistry under one roof. Whether your smile needs preventive, cosmetic, or even restorative care, we can provide it with the best possible help. Our team can even handle dental emergencies like knocked-out teeth and lost dental crowns! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (781)-272-0441.