Lost a Crown or Filling in Los Altos Hills? Looking After the Tooth Until Your Visit

A crown that pops off during dinner, or a filling that suddenly feels like a hollow under your tongue, is unsettling. In most cases it is not a true emergency, but the tooth underneath has lost its protection and needs a little care until it can be repaired. This guide walks patients in Los Altos Hills through the hours and days between the moment it happens and the appointment that fixes it.

Crown, temporary crown or filling: why it matters which

• A permanent crown covers a tooth that has already been shaped. When it comes off, the exposed tooth is smaller than normal and may be sensitive. If the crown is intact, it can often be cemented back on.
• A temporary crown protects a tooth while a permanent one is being made. The tooth beneath is especially vulnerable, so a lost temporary deserves a quicker call.
• A filling leaves a hole in the tooth when it falls out. Fillings cannot usually be put back; the cavity needs to be cleaned and refilled.

In the first few minutes

1. Get it out of your mouth. Remove the crown or any fragments so they cannot be swallowed or bitten on.
2. Keep the crown. Rinse it gently and put it in a small clean container or bag. Bring it with you.
3. Rinse your mouth. Warm water or a mild salt-water rinse clears debris. If something is stuck, ease it out with floss rather than anything sharp.
4. Take stock. Look in a mirror for sharp edges, and notice whether the tooth reacts to air or temperature.

The first evening

Eat soft food on the other side of your mouth and skip anything very hot, very cold, sticky or crunchy. If the tooth aches, an over-the-counter pain reliever taken as directed is usually enough. Keep aspirin off the gum itself, since it can burn the soft tissue.

A jagged edge that catches your tongue or cheek can be covered with a small piece of orthodontic wax or sugar-free gum as a short-term cushion.

Temporary fixes: what is sensible and what is not

Pharmacies sell temporary dental cement and filling material. Used carefully, these can hold a clean crown loosely in place or cover a small hole for a day or two. Check with us first if you can, make sure the crown sits exactly as it did before, and treat it only as a stopgap.

Never use superglue or household adhesive. These products are not safe in the mouth and can damage the tooth or crown badly enough that a straightforward repair is no longer possible.

Over the next day or two

• Keep brushing gently around the exposed tooth. It is more prone to decay without its covering, so keeping it clean matters.
• If you have reseated the crown temporarily, pull floss out sideways rather than lifting it up, so you do not dislodge it.
• Continue to favour the other side when chewing.
• Call to arrange a visit. Even a painless tooth should be covered soon; left exposed, it can become sensitive, decay, or shift slightly so the crown no longer fits.

When it becomes more urgent

Call us the same day if:

• Pain is not controlled by over-the-counter medication.
• Swelling appears or is increasing.
• The bite suddenly feels wrong, or the tooth feels loose.
• The lost restoration was a temporary crown.
• The tooth has broken, not just the crown or filling.

If you think you may have inhaled the crown, particularly if you are coughing, wheezing or short of breath, seek medical care straight away. A crown that has been swallowed normally passes without harm.

Why crowns and fillings come loose

A restoration usually fails because of what is happening beneath it rather than the restoration itself. Cement can wash out over the years. Decay can creep in at the edges and undermine the seal. The tooth underneath may have become too weak to hold the crown. Sticky sweets, hard foods and grinding can also work a restoration loose.

That is why the fix is not always as simple as putting it back. We need to see what caused it.

What the visit usually involves

We examine the tooth, often with an X-ray, and check the crown if you brought it. Then:

• If the tooth is healthy and the crown fits well, it can often be cleaned and cemented back.
• If there is decay or the crown is damaged, the tooth is repaired and a new crown made. Our same-day crowns can often complete this in a single appointment.
• A lost filling is replaced, or, if the tooth has little structure left, a crown may be the stronger option.

If the tooth has also cracked or broken, our guide to a broken tooth has more on what to expect, and our general dentistry page covers restorative options.

Reaching us

Our studio is in Mountain View, reachable from Los Altos Hills via Foothill Expressway, San Antonio Road or Highway 280. Call (650) 917-8348 and tell us what came out and how the tooth feels; we will advise on timing and find you a visit.