Why Has My Crown Fallen Out? Causes, Risks & What to Do Next

Why Has My Crown Fallen Out? Causes, Risks & What to Do Next

There are few things in life quite as startling as when you bite down on your lunch and realise your dental crown has come away. Maybe you first noticed your crown had fallen out afterwards when you felt a big gap in your bite, or perhaps you became aware the instant it happened.

Either way, it can feel like a full-blown emergency – even at three p.m and while most people find their crowns still going strong after 10 years, it can happen at any time. The question is, when it does, what do you do about it?

It can be worrying, not being sure whether you need an emergency appointment or not, but the key is not to panic. In this blog, we look at why it happens, what you should do next and how your dentist might treat it.

Why Do Dental Crowns Fall Out?

When you look at why most dental crowns fall out, it’s often not because of a single event. Of course, it could be knocked out through an impact, but usually, it’s because an issue has been quietly building for a while.

Crowns are held in place using dental cement, but they also rely on the tooth underneath being strong enough to support them. If the crown, cement or natural tooth changes over time, that stable fit can start to weaken.

In many cases, losing a crown is because of normal wear and tear or hidden decay that’s made it happen. If you’ve never had a crown before and you’re about to get one, our blog on the subject tells you more about what to expect.

What Should I Do First If My Crown Falls Out?

If your dental crown has fallen out, the first thing to do is stay calm and avoid chewing on that side of your mouth. It can feel strange, sharp or sensitive, but panicking usually leads people to do silly things like trying to force the crown back on or just ignoring it completely.

The safest approach is to treat it like something that needs checking by a dentist in Manchester at your first opportunity, even if you’re not experiencing any pain. A crown protects the tooth underneath, so when it comes away, it’s going to be more exposed than it was before.

Here are a few things you should focus on:

• Don’t Ignore It – Problems like these don’t fix themselves – they usually simply deteriorate, leading to eventual tooth loss or extraction.

So, even if the tooth feels ok, it’s best to arrange an appointment as soon as you can – during which your dentist will be able to tell you what needs to be done to restore things.

• Keep Hold of the Crown – If you still have the crown, put it somewhere safe and bring it with you to your appointment. Your dentist may be able to reuse it if it’s intact and still fits properly, but they’ll need to check both the crown and the tooth before deciding whether that’s possible.
• Don’t Glue It Back Yourself – It might seem like a wise move to try to use some glue you have at home to put it back, but that’s never a good idea. It can cause way more problems, not least because if it’s badly aligned (which it likely will be if you do it yourself), it’s probably not going to feel very comfortable.

Also, dental glue exists for a reason, and using anything else could damage the tooth or the gum and make the subsequent repair that much trickier.

The main thing is not to leave it, because the longer a lost crown or broken tooth is left untreated, the more chance there is of further damage occurring.

What Will a Dentist Do If Your Crown Falls Out?

Your dentist’s biggest priority, to begin with, is to figure out why the crown came off in the first place. That means having a proper look at the crown itself, the tooth underneath, the gum around it, and whether your bite is putting uneven pressure on that area.

What happens from there depends entirely on what they find. Sometimes the old crown can go straight back on without much drama. Other times, the tooth needs sorting out first, perhaps with root canal treatment, or the crown’s reached the point where it needs replacing.

Here’s what your dentist will typically concentrate on:

• Looking at the exposed tooth – Decay, cracks, sensitivity, anything that’s changed shape – your dentist needs to know what state the tooth’s in before going any further.
• Checking the old crown – If it hasn’t cracked or worn down and the fit’s still right, cleaning it up and popping it back on might be all that’s needed.
• Getting rid of old cement and debris – The area needs to be properly cleaned out before anything new goes in; otherwise, nothing will sit right or stick properly – hence why a DIY fix is not a good idea.
• Sorting any decay or damage first – If something’s changed with the tooth itself, that gets treated before there’s any talk of reusing the old crown.
• Looking at your bite – Uneven pressure on the tooth in question might be the reason why it came out, so your dentist will likely use their skill to make sure everything is properly lined up.
• Fitting a new crown – You could be lucky in that it might just need replacing or that the treatment plan also involves a new crown.

Losing a crown isn’t necessarily a guarantee that you’ll need complicated work done, but whichever way you look at it, seeing a dentist in good time matters a lot. 

Worried you might need a root canal to fix things? Don’t stress; whatever happens, it’s relatively routine, and you’re in very good hands – as our blog explains.

Lost a Crown? Let the Ringway Team Sort It

A crown falling out can be more than a bit scary, but it doesn’t always mean the worst has happened. Sometimes it’s a simple case of refitting it, while other times the tooth underneath needs a bit more attention before the crown can go back on.

At Ringway Dental, our team regularly help patients with damaged, loose and lost crowns. We’ll check what’s happened, explain your options clearly, and make sure the tooth is properly protected.

Just remember, don’t leave it longer than absolutely necessary. Get in touch with our team or book online at ringwaydental.com, and we’ll help you get things sorted.

FAQs

Q – Can I leave the tooth without a crown for a few days?

A – Not really advisable. The tooth’s more exposed without it, so you’re looking at a higher chance of pain, decay or other damage building up.

Q – Does it hurt when a crown comes off?

A – Depends on the person – some feel sensitivity or soreness around the area, others notice almost nothing. Either way, get it checked out.

Q – Can the old crown go back on?

A – Often, yes. As long as it hasn’t cracked and the tooth underneath is still in decent condition, your dentist can usually clean it up and refit it.

Q – I think I’ve swallowed my crown – is that a problem?

A – Usually, it will simply pass through on its own, with no issues. But if you’re worried, you could still have a chat with your dentist. 

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