Emergency Dental Work: 3 Tips to Successfully Attach Temporary Crowns that Have Come Loose

Before a permanent crown is installed, your dentist will usually recommend that you use a temporary one made from plastic or stainless steel. The temporary crowns will usually last until the permanent ones are installed; however, in the event that the temporary crowns fall off, here are 3 tips on how to successfully attach them again before you have a chance to see an emergency dentist.

Clean the Surface of the Tooth and the Inside of the Crown

Use a toothbrush and a toothpick to clean the surface of both the affected tooth and the inside of the crown. Remove as much of the cement or adhesive as possible, along with any food particles or debris that have accumulated. You need the two surfaces to be clean in order to ensure that the crown will attach properly without falling off again before you can see an emergency dentist. Thoroughly dry the temporary crown afterwards.

Attempt to Fit the Crown without any Cement or Adhesive

Once you've prepared the tooth and the dental crown, you want to attempt to fit the crown onto the affected tooth without any cement or adhesive. Basically, you want to make sure that the dental crown fits perfectly without feeling uncomfortable. If it does, it might mean that you either did not clean the tooth or the dental crown thoroughly and there's still some cement on the surfaces or that you have placed the dental crown in an incorrect position. Try seating the temporary crown in several different ways.

Use Floss to Remove Excess Cement or Adhesive

Once the temporary dental crown fits like a glove, you'll want to apply some cement or adhesive to the surface in order to attach it to your natural tooth. There's a good chance that you're going to use too much cement or adhesive. Floss the sides of the affected tooth, and bite down on the temporary crown while you slide the floss out. This should remove any excess cement or adhesive present for a more comfortable fit. You can also use a toothbrush or toothpick to remove any additional excess product. 

While the reattached temporary crown might feel like it is secure, you should still visit an emergency dentist as soon as possible. The emergency dentist can inspect the temporary crown to determine whether any additional measures need to be taken to secure the temporary crown in place to prevent it from falling off again.