Crown or Filling Fell Out? What to Do Now, and What Can Wait
A crown or filling that has fallen out leaves the tooth underneath uncovered. It needs a dentist within days, not weeks. If nothing hurts, it can wait until we open. If it hurts, swells or leaves a sharp edge, it cannot.
Below: what to do in the first hour, what to do if it happens on a Saturday night, what pharmacy cement is for, and whether the old crown goes back on. Our emergency dentist page covers how we handle urgent visits.
The short version
• Keep the crown, rinse your mouth and chew on the other side. Do not use household glue.
• No pain: it can wait a few days. Call when we open, and do not leave it for weeks.
• Pain that will not settle, swelling or a sharp edge cutting your tongue: call as soon as we open.
• Trouble breathing or swallowing, or a cough after the crown went missing: ER or 911.
Written by Dr. Gloria Jung, DDS, BSc, at Lux Dental in downtown Vancouver. Guidance checked on 30 October 2026 against Scottish and NHS dental guidance and the Canadian and American Dental Associations, linked where used and listed at the end of this post.
What should I do first when my crown or filling falls out?
Keep what came out, keep the tooth clean and keep your bite off it. That covers the first hour.
Check that you have not swallowed or inhaled it. If you cannot find the crown, read the section on swallowing below before anything else.
Rinse your mouth gently with warm water.
Find the crown and keep it safe. NHS Wales says to take it to the dentist with you.
Chew on the other side. NHS Wales advises avoiding hard foods on a tooth that has lost a filling or crown, and very hot or cold food and drink.
Keep brushing, that tooth included, twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. If it is sensitive, NHS Wales says sensitive toothpaste works best applied directly to the tooth with your finger and left there.
If an edge cuts your tongue or cheek, cover it with orthodontic wax, which most pharmacies sell, as Cleveland Clinic advises.
For pain, take an over-the-counter pain reliever as the label directs. Never put aspirin on the tooth or gum: the American Dental Association advises against it, and Cleveland Clinic says it may burn the tissue.
None of this repairs the tooth. It keeps it clean and comfortable until someone can look at it. If a piece of the tooth itself broke away with the crown or filling, our post on chipped and broken teeth covers what that means and the repairs.
Which signs mean it cannot wait until we open?
Pain that painkillers do not settle, swelling, and anything that affects your breathing.
Guidance for dental teams from the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme sorts a lost filling or crown mostly by pain. If pain has not been relieved by painkillers, it advises urgent dental care. If pain is relieved or is not a significant part of the problem, non-urgent care is enough. It also says that if a patient may have inhaled a piece of tooth, filling or restoration, they go to emergency care immediately.
What you notice | What to do |
No pain, or mild sensitivity that settles | Cover it, chew on the other side, call when we open. This week, not next month |
Pain that painkillers do not settle | Call us as soon as we open |
A sharp edge that keeps cutting your tongue or cheek | Cover it with wax and call when we open |
A swollen face or jaw, a bad taste that will not go, or a fever with a sore tooth | Call us the same day if we are open. If we are closed, or the swelling is spreading, go to the ER |
Trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling spreading toward the eye or neck, or bleeding you cannot stop | ER or 911 |
A cough, choking or wheeze after the crown went missing | ER or 911 |
The ER lines match our own emergency page. The abscess signs, a swollen face or jaw, a bad taste and a high temperature, come from the NHS, which says an abscess needs urgent treatment by a dentist and will not go away on its own.
An ER can give you pain relief or antibiotics, but it does not replace crowns or fillings, as Cleveland Clinic explains. If you go, call us the next morning we are open and tell us what you were given.
Pain, swelling or a sharp edge?
Our emergency page says we offer same-day emergency appointments where availability allows. Call as early in the day as you can.
What if it falls out on a Saturday night or a Sunday?
Use the first-hour steps and call us when we next open. We are open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm, and closed on Sunday.
When it falls out | When to call us |
Monday to Friday, before 5pm | Now |
Monday to Friday, after 5pm | The next morning we are open, from 9am |
Saturday, before 5pm | Now |
Saturday after 5pm, or Sunday | Monday from 9am |
Anything on the ER list above skips this table.
Nothing hurts. Do the first-hour steps and call on Monday. An ER visit would not fix a crown that does not hurt, because ERs do not do fillings or crowns.
Pain that painkillers will not settle, or swelling. The ER can give pain relief, and antibiotics for an infection, until we open. Call us on Monday morning and tell us what you were given.
The ER list. Call 911 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department. In downtown Vancouver, St. Paul's Hospital is at 1081 Burrard Street, and Providence Health Care says its emergency department operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with the emergency entrance on Burrard Street between Comox Street and Davie. Providence also says a new St. Paul's is under construction and expected to open in 2027, so if you are reading this later, check the current address on their site.
Not sure which of these you have. Call 8-1-1. Providence describes it as a free phone service in British Columbia for health information and advice, run by HealthLink BC.
Can I put the crown back on with temporary dental cement?
Yes, as a stopgap, if it goes back on easily.
Cleveland Clinic says that if you can, you can put a broken crown or bridge back in place after coating its inside with over-the-counter dental cement, toothpaste or denture adhesive, and that you should bring it to your dentist either way. The Scottish guidance above says an open cavity can be covered with an emergency temporary repair kit bought at a pharmacy.
Temporary dental cement holds a crown in place for a short time. It is called temporary because it is not meant to last, so follow the instructions on the package. It is not a repair, and the tooth still needs a dentist. If the crown does not go back on easily, leave it out and keep it safe.
For a lost filling, Cleveland Clinic suggests pressing a piece of sugarless gum into the cavity, because sugar-filled gum will cause pain, or using over-the-counter dental cement.
Leave household glue alone. Cleveland Clinic is direct about it: "Don't use a 'super glue'!" The tooth under the crown is the part I need to look at, and glue sits between me and it.
How long can I go without my crown or filling?
Days, not weeks.
If nothing hurts, a lost crown or filling is not an emergency, and it should not be left. Our emergency page explains why: crown dislodgement usually happens when the cement washes out from underneath, which lets bacteria leak in and cause decay in the tooth structure beneath. A dislodged crown should be seen quickly, it says. No guideline I found names a safe number of weeks, so I will not give you one.
The same three stages are written out below.
Crown in place. Cement holds the crown on the shaped tooth underneath.
Cement washes out. The crown loosens, bacteria can get in, and decay can start under it.
Crown off. The tooth underneath is uncovered and open to decay. Keep the crown and bring it.
A lost filling follows the same logic. The Canadian Dental Association says a large cavity left unfilled can get bigger and cause pain, and that the tooth may even have to be removed.
A lost filling or crown with no pain?
Online booking is for a tooth that is not sore. If it hurts, call 604-670-1256 instead. Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm, at 1631 Davie Street.
What if I swallowed my crown or filling?
Usually it is not an emergency. The thing to rule out is that it went down the airway instead.
When a crown or other piece disappears into the back of the mouth during dental work, as many as 80% are swallowed and about 20% are inhaled, according to a JADA paper summarized by Spear Education. Those figures come from dental offices, not from crowns that fall out at home, so treat them as a rough guide. The same summary says a hole in the gut from a swallowed object is rare, 1% or less, and more likely with sharp objects. If a swallowed object has not passed after one week, or you develop symptoms, the authors suggest imaging and a referral.
An inhaled crown is different. It is a medical emergency, and the Scottish guidance says to send a patient who has inhaled or may have inhaled one to emergency care immediately. Coughing, choking, wheezing or trouble breathing after the crown went missing means ER or 911. Do not wait to see if it settles.
An inhaled crown does not always announce itself. A case report describes an older man with no symptoms after aspirating a crown who developed pneumonia two years later, and a second report describes a crown inhaled unnoticed and found several months later behind recurring bronchitis. Both are rare. They are the reason for this advice: if you cannot find the crown, and a cough, wheeze or fever follows in the days or weeks after, tell a doctor you lost a crown.
If you are unsure, call 8-1-1. Whatever happened to the crown, the tooth still needs a visit, so call us when we open.
Will my old crown go back on, or do I need a new one?
Often the old one goes back on, if the crown is undamaged and the tooth underneath is sound.
The Scottish guidance lists re-cementing the crown with a temporary or final cement, depending on the integrity of the tooth beneath and whether a new restoration is needed. So the dentist looks at two things: the crown, which may be cracked or no longer fit, and the tooth, for decay near the edge or a crack. An x-ray helps with the second part: the Canadian Dental Association says dentists use x-rays to take a closer look at problem spots.
What the dentist finds | What it can mean |
Crown intact, tooth sound | Clean the crown and cement it back on |
The tooth needs work first | A temporary filling or repair, then a crown |
Crown cracked, or no longer fits | A new crown |
Decay or infection has reached the nerve | Root canal treatment, then a filling or crown |
The tooth cannot be repaired | Removal |
The rows follow NHS Wales, which says a dentist may suggest a temporary filling or repair first, a new filling or crown later, and root canal treatment or removal if the tooth cannot be repaired. The Canadian Dental Association adds that a root-canal-treated back tooth will likely need a crown. Which row is yours, only an exam shows.
A new crown usually takes two appointments. Cleveland Clinic says the dentist prepares the tooth and takes impressions, a temporary crown goes on while the lab makes the final one, which usually takes two to three weeks, and the final crown is bonded at the second visit. Your own case may differ.
Why does the tooth under my crown look dark?
Because of what is under there, or because of decay, and the colour alone does not say which.
Crowns are commonly used after a root canal, to support a large filling, or to repair a broken tooth, the Canadian Dental Association says. The CDA's fillings page lists brown or black spots among the signs of decay, and describes a damaged, darkened tooth that has had root canal treatment. So a dark tooth under a crown can be either, and a photo will not settle it. A dark tooth with pain, a bad taste or swelling goes up the list: call us when we open.
What does it mean when a filling falls out?
Sometimes only that it wore out, and sometimes that something has changed in the tooth.
Healthline, medically reviewed by a dentist, says fillings typically last around 10 years, and that trauma, decay around the filling and grinding your teeth all affect how long. It adds that a filling may crack or wear down until it no longer protects the tooth from decay, and that sometimes a filling just falls out. You cannot tell which from the mirror. The dentist looks for decay around and under the filling and for a crack in the tooth, and an x-ray can show decay under a filling.
NHS Wales says the dentist may place a temporary filling or repair first, with a new filling or a crown to follow. If a lot of the tooth is gone, Cleveland Clinic says an inlay or onlay can restore a tooth that is too damaged for a filling but too healthy to need a crown. If decay has reached the nerve, the tooth may need root canal treatment.
A new filling or crown that sits slightly high can make the tooth sore to bite on. If that happens after the work is done, our post on pain when you bite down covers why, and what to do.
What if it is a temporary crown that fell out?
Keep it, and call the clinic that made it first.
A temporary crown is placed to protect your tooth while the final crown is made, the Canadian Dental Association explains. The tooth under it has been shaped for the final crown, so when it comes off, that tooth is uncovered. The clinic that placed it has your records and knows where the final crown is up to, so they should hear first. The first-hour steps above apply to a temporary crown too.
If you cannot reach them, call us and we will tell you honestly what we can do.
What happens when you call Lux Dental about a crown or filling?
A treatment room at Lux Dental, downtown Vancouver.
You get a straight answer about whether it needs to be seen today. Our emergency page says we offer same-day emergency appointments where availability allows, that same-day capacity is limited and fills quickly, and to call as early in the day as you can. I will not promise a same-day slot here.
At the visit, the dentist looks at the tooth and at the crown if you kept it, and takes an x-ray if one is needed. Then the options are explained in plain language and you decide, with no pressure.
Our emergency page lists what to bring: the crown, your insurance information or CDCP details, records or x-rays from a previous dentist, a list of your medications, and your questions.
We are open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm. Closed Sunday.
Downtown, on Davie Street. 1631 Davie Street, close to the West End, Yaletown and Coal Harbour.
If cost is what is stopping you from calling, coverage depends on your plan and your insurer decides it, so ask your insurer what your plan includes before treatment is planned. Our fee guide page explains how the BC dental fee guide works, which many insurers use to set coverage amounts. Fillings, crowns and root canals are on our restorative dentistry page, which lists a crown that has come loose or fallen out among the problems we see.
Frequently asked questions
My filling fell out and it doesn't hurt. Is it an emergency?
No, but do not leave it for weeks. Cover the spot, chew on the other side and call us when we open. Guidance for dental teams from the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme says non-urgent care is enough when pain is relieved or is not significant. Pain, swelling or a sharp edge change that, so call as soon as we open.
Can I glue my crown back on with super glue?
No. Cleveland Clinic says not to use super glue. If the crown goes back on easily, an over-the-counter dental cement from a pharmacy can hold it for a short time, and toothpaste or denture adhesive can do the job in a pinch. Whatever you use, keep the crown and bring it with you, because the tooth underneath needs checking.
How long can I go without a crown after it falls off?
Days, not weeks. A crown that has come off leaves the tooth uncovered, and cement washing out lets bacteria in, as our emergency page explains. No guideline I found names a safe number of weeks, so call us when we open. If it hurts, swells or leaves a sharp edge, call as soon as we open rather than waiting for a convenient day.
I swallowed my crown. Do I need to go to the ER?
Not if you have no breathing symptoms. Most pieces that go missing in the back of the mouth are swallowed, not inhaled, according to Spear Education. See a doctor if it has not passed after about a week or you feel unwell. Go to the ER or call 911 if you cough, choke, wheeze or struggle to breathe, because it may have gone down the airway.
My temporary crown fell out. What should I do?
Keep it and call the clinic that made it first, because they have your records and know where the final crown is up to. The Canadian Dental Association explains that a temporary crown protects the tooth while the final crown is made. If you cannot reach them, call us and we will tell you honestly what we can do.
Should I go to the ER if my crown falls out on a weekend?
Only for the ER signs: trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling spreading toward the eye or neck, bleeding you cannot stop, or a cough after the crown went missing. An ER does not replace crowns or fillings. If nothing hurts, use the first-hour steps and call us Monday from 9am. We are open Saturday, 9am to 5pm, and closed on Sunday.
Will my old crown go back on, or do I need a new one?
Often the same crown can be cleaned and cemented back on, if it is undamaged and the tooth underneath is sound. The Scottish guidance says re-cementing depends on the integrity of the tooth beneath and whether a new restoration is needed. If the crown or the tooth is damaged, you may need a new crown, which usually takes two appointments.
Book a visit in downtown Vancouver
A crown or filling that fell out and does not hurt deserves a visit this week. One that hurts deserves a call as soon as we open.
If it hurts, call. If it does not, book online. We are open Monday to Saturday, and closed on Sunday. At the time of writing, Lux Dental has 180 Google reviews, 177 of them five stars.
Lux Dental, 1631 Davie Street, Vancouver, BC V6G 1W1. Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm. Closed Sunday.
Sources: Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme, Acute Dental Problems, Cracked, fractured, loose or displaced tooth fragments and restorations (read 30 October 2026); NHS Wales 111, Lost Filling or Crown (last updated 18 February 2025, read 30 October 2026); NHS, Dental abscess (read 30 October 2026); Cleveland Clinic, What Is a Dental Emergency and Where To Go for Care (last updated 15 September 2022) and Dental Crowns (last updated 14 April 2023); American Dental Association, MouthHealthy, Dental Emergencies (read 30 October 2026); Canadian Dental Association, Crowns, Fillings and Root Canal Treatment (read 30 October 2026); Healthline, How Long Do Fillings Last (medically reviewed 30 September 2020); Spear Education, Accidental Ingestion of Dental Materials: Treatment and Prevention, summarizing Abusamaan et al., JADA 2014; Primera et al., Case Reports in Dentistry 2023 (PMC10017206), and a case report in Cureus 2025 (PMC12466811), both on an aspirated crown; Providence Health Care, In an emergency and St. Paul's Hospital (read 30 October 2026); Lux Dental emergency and restorative dentistry pages (read 30 October 2026).
Dr. Gloria Jung, DDS, BSc, Lux Dental
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