A lost restoration should be evaluated promptly because the remaining tooth may be vulnerable to further damage.
This guide explains what to do, when same-day dental care may be needed, and how dentists decide between recementing, repairing, or replacing the restoration.
What to Do First
After a crown or filling comes out:
- Save the crown if you can find it
- Rinse your mouth gently
- Keep the area clean
- Avoid chewing on that side
- Avoid very hot, cold, hard, or sticky foods
- Contact a dental office
- Do not use household glue
A temporary dental product may provide short-term protection, but it is not a permanent repair.
When the Problem Is Urgent
Seek prompt evaluation if you have:
- Severe or increasing pain
- Facial swelling
- Fever
- Bleeding that does not stop
- A sharp tooth cutting the tongue or cheek
- Difficulty biting
- A bad taste or drainage
- A tooth that has broken under the crown
Swelling, fever, or spreading pain may indicate infection and should not be ignored.
Can a Crown Be Recemented?
A dentist may be able to recement a crown when:
- The crown is intact
- The tooth underneath is not badly decayed
- The supporting tooth has not fractured
- The crown still fits properly
The dentist will usually clean the crown and tooth, check the fit, and determine why it became loose.
If the crown no longer fits or the tooth has changed, replacement may be needed.
When Does a Crown Need Replacement?
Replacement may be recommended when:
- The crown is cracked
- Decay is present underneath
- The tooth has fractured
- The margins no longer fit
- The crown has worn through
- The underlying tooth needs additional treatment
A temporary crown may be used while a new permanent crown is being made.
What Happens When a Filling Falls Out?
The dentist will examine:
- How much tooth structure remains
- Whether new decay is present
- Whether the tooth is cracked
- How close the damage is to the nerve
- Whether a new filling can support the tooth
A small defect may be treated with a new filling. A larger weakened tooth may need a crown. If the nerve is affected, root canal treatment may be considered.
Same-Day Repair Options
Depending on the office and the condition of the tooth, same-day care may include:
- Smoothing a sharp edge
- Placing a temporary filling
- Recementing an intact crown
- Making a temporary crown
- Placing a permanent filling
- Beginning treatment for a new crown
Same-day treatment does not always mean the final restoration is completed that day.
What Affects the Cost?
Cost may depend on:
- Examination and X-rays
- Temporary repair
- Recementing the existing crown
- New filling
- Core buildup
- New crown
- Root canal treatment
- Emergency or after-hours visit
- Material selected
- Geographic location
Ask whether the estimate includes both the temporary and final restoration.
Questions to Ask
- Can the existing crown be reused?
- Is there decay underneath?
- Has the tooth fractured?
- Is a temporary repair safe?
- Will I need a new crown?
- Is root canal treatment necessary?
- What is included in the estimate?
- How long can the temporary repair last?
Final Thoughts
A lost crown or filling may look like a small problem, but the exposed tooth can become more damaged if treatment is delayed.
Protect the area, avoid chewing on it, and arrange an evaluation. The final treatment may range from simple recementing to a new filling, crown, or additional tooth repair.
研究の知恵