Loose or Fallen Out Dental Crown
Dental crowns provide the tooth with extra strength and support. They are held in by a special dental cement and with proper care and maintenance, they can last a very long time.
Unfortunately, there are times when the tooth crown can fall off. If this happens, it can usually be recemented back on by an dentist. Before you schedule a visit at a dental clinic, there are some things that you should know:
- How much does it cost to recement or replace my dental crown?
- What do I do when my dental crown falls off?
- Why did my dental crown fall off?
- The dental crown re-cementation procedure
- Frequently asked questions
Read more below to learn things you can do to manage the problem until you are seen by a dentist, or contact us for more information.
Cost of Recementation for Inlays/Onlays/Crowns/Veneers
The cost of a recementing an Inlay, Onlay, Crown or Veneer ranges between $122-402 depending on the amount of time it takes the dentist to perform this procedure. Normally, it takes 30 minutes, and would cost $216. The codes relevant to dental crowns in the Ontario Dental Association’s Suggested Fee Guide appear as follows:
Recementation/Rebonding, Inlays/Onlays/Crowns/Veneers/Posts/Natural Tooth Gragments (single units only)
- 29101 – One Unit of Time (15 minutes): $122
- 29102 – Two Unit of Time (30 minutes): $216
- 29103 – Three Unit of Time (45 minutes): $309
- 29104 – Four Unit of Time (60 minutes): $402
The recementation of single unit dental prostheses is usually considered a basic restorative procedure covered by your dental insurance. Be sure to find out from your dental insurance plan provider how much you are eligible for before going ahead with dental treatment. Your dentist can help you submit an predetermination to your dental insurance. Our fees are consistent with the ODA Fee Guide.
What Do I Do When My Dental Crown Falls Out?
First, make sure you don’t swallow or inhale the tooth crown. If you think you did swallow the crown, visit your local hospital emergency department to get a chest x-ray taken to locate it. In the meanwhile, keep it safe in a small container or bag. You may disinfect the crown with rubbing alcohol.
Second, contact a dentist to assess, clean and properly recement the tooth crown back on.
If the tooth still has the nerve inside it intact, the exposed tooth may feel uncomfortable or sensitive without its protective dental crown. Keep the tooth clean of food debris. Avoid any food or drinks that are too hot or cold that can irritate the tooth. Chew with the opposite side of the mouth.
Do not attempt to glue the tooth crown yourself with superglue. Your dentist uses specific dental cements. If the tooth is in the front of your mouth and you feel the need to temporarily replace the crown for aesthetics, you can visit your local pharmacy and ask for any dental-approved temporary cement. You can alternatively wear a face mask in public to hide your smile.
Why Did My Dental Crown Fall Off?
There are a few different reasons why a tooth crown can fall off:
- Dental trauma: Any sudden impact or traumatic injury can loosen the crown, such as biting down too hard on a very solid or chewy piece of food.
- Tooth decay: If a cavity starts to form where the dental crown meets the tooth, it can weaken the cement that holds the crown in place, and cause the crown to fall out. A high sugar diet or poor oral hygiene increases this risk.
- Weakened dental cement: It is also possible that the dental cement has weakened over time and has failed. Certain kinds of dental cements can become brittle with time and lose its bonding strength. Fortunately, this is the simplest problem to fix and is one of the most common.
The Dental Crown Re-Cementation Procedure
When you visit the emergency dentist to recement your loose crown, the dentist will first perform a cursory examination to see the amount of damage done. A dental x-ray may be required to check the health of the tooth.
If eligible, the dentist will proceed to recement the crown. The dentist will clean the tooth surface and the inside surface of the unbonded crown, making sure that the crown still fits. A number of techniques to improve the bond strength of your crown may be used, including sandblasting the inside of the crown, solvent cleaners, bonding primers and dual cured resin cements. Resin-modified glass ionomer cements are also popular.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still eat and drink after my dental crown has fallen out?
You may still eat and drink after a dental crown has fallen out and before you visit the dentist. Be sure to eat with the opposite side of the mouth, avoid any excessively hot or cold foods that can irritate the tooth, and to brush and floss immediately after eating to keep the tooth clean. Be sure to keep the loose crown out of the mouth. Do not attempt to place the dental crown back on the tooth before you eat.
Why is the tooth under the dental crown black?
If the tooth underneath the dental crown is discoloured or black, this could be an indication of dental decay. Sometimes, teeth that have had silver amalgam fillings or root canal treatment before the dental crown was placed can stain the tooth a dark colour. Have your dentist assess the health of the tooth. Patients sometimes request to have the dental amalgam filling removed and replaced with composite resin fillings.
If my crown is loose but still stuck on the tooth, should I try to pull it off?
If the dental crown appears to be moving but is still firmly on the tooth, it is best not to attempt to pull out the loose crown as this can cause some damage to the affected tooth and the surrounding teeth. The exception to this rule is if the tooth is very loose and appears to almost fall out with the slightest finger pressure. In this latter scenario, you may safely remove the tooth by hand and contact your dentist for an appointment.
