Emergency Case

Lost Crown or Filling

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Losing a filling or dental crown is a common but alarming event. It often happens while eating sticky foods (like toffee or caramel) or simply due to the aging of the cement holding the restoration in place. Suddenly, you feel a hard object in your mouth and a gaping hole in your tooth.

While this may not always cause immediate agony, it is crucial to treat it promptly. The exposed inner tooth is weak, sensitive, and vulnerable to rapid decay. At Emergency Dentist London, we can often re-cement your existing crown or place a durable temporary restoration in a single visit.

Immediate Steps: What to Do

Don't Chew on It:

Remove the loose crown or filling from your mouth immediately to avoid swallowing or inhaling it.

Check the Tooth:

Is it painful? Sensitive to air? Keep the area clean by gently rinsing with warm water.

Keep the Restoration:

If you have the crown, clean it and keep it safe. Bring it to your appointment. We may be able to re-cement it, saving you the cost of a new one.

Temporary Fixes:

If you cannot see us immediately (e.g., on holiday), you can buy "temporary dental cement" from a pharmacy. Place a small amount inside the crown and gently seat it back on the tooth.

NEVER use Superglue. It is toxic and will ruin the crown and the tooth.

Why Does This Happen?

Decay Recurrence

Bacteria can leak underneath old fillings/crowns, causing the supporting tooth structure to rot and soften until the restoration falls out.

Cement Failure

Over many years, the glue holding a crown can dissolve.

Trauma

Biting on a hard object (olive pit, popcorn kernel) can fracture the bond.

Grinding

Night-time grinding (bruxism) puts immense force on restorations, popping them off.

Treatment Options

1. Re-Cementation

If the crown fits well and the underlying tooth is healthy (no decay), we can simply clean both surfaces and cement it back on with strong, permanent dental adhesive. This is the quickest and most affordable solution.

2. Core Build-Up and New Crown

If the tooth underneath has decayed or fractured, there may not be enough structure left to hold the old crown. We will need to remove the decay, build up the core of the tooth with composite filling material, and likely make a new, better-fitting crown.

3. Replacement Filling

If a filling falls out, we cannot put the old one back. We will clean the cavity to ensure no bacteria remain and place a new aesthetic white (composite) filling.

Risks of Waiting

Leaving a tooth exposed is risky. The dentine (inner layer) is soft and decays much faster than enamel. Within weeks, a simple re-cementation job can turn into a root canal or extraction if decay reaches the nerve.

Furthermore, without the crown, the adjacent teeth may drift into the gap, making it impossible to fit the crown back on later.

If you have a gap in your smile, book a slot with us today. We can restore your function and aesthetics instantly.