You found it after a meal
Tell us what was on your plate and whether there had been any earlier movement. Keep it clean and secure, and avoid pushing it back into place or biting on that side until it has been checked.
Restorative Dentistry
Crown Recementation in Erin
Recementation needs the crown, so finding it is the first job. Whether it is in a pocket or still missing, households in Erin and Hillsburgh can call us, bring what they have and learn what the tooth needs next.
First, where is the crown?Call about a lost crown
Found it, lost it, or not sure
A crown can slip out unnoticed at the dinner table, in a sandwich at work or during sleep. Some people find it straight away; others notice the gap with their tongue hours later and have no idea where it went. What happens next depends a great deal on which of those situations you are in.
Recementation reattaches the original crown, so it is only an option when the crown has been found and is still in good condition. The tooth also has to be sound enough to hold it. If the crown is missing or damaged, the dentist can still examine the tooth and talk about how to protect it, which may involve a temporary cover and a new crown.
Retrace your steps first: check plates, napkins, pockets, pillows and the car seat. If you find it, rinse it gently and keep it in a closed container. If you think you might have swallowed it, mention that when you call. Either way, the tooth deserves attention, so do not let the search delay a phone call for long.
What to tell us
Where it went and how the tooth feels
Let the team know whether you have the crown, whether anything was stuck inside it and how the uncovered tooth is behaving. Pain is not required for a visit to be worthwhile.
The gap is sensitive to air or drinks
Describe what triggers the feeling and how long it lasts. The tooth needs its own assessment, especially if the crown is missing and the surface is now exposed day to day.
It has come off before
When a crown has been lost or refitted in the past, the cause deserves a closer look. Mention approximately when it last came off and whether it tends to happen in similar circumstances.
Still attached but loose? Leave it and call for advice, as a loose crown is easier to lose. Mention pain, swelling or recent injury when you phone.
If you have the crown
A recovered crown may be reusable
When the crown has been found intact, fits well and the tooth below is sound, reattaching it can avoid having a new crown made. That is a good reason to keep searching and to store it carefully once found. The dentist confirms suitability by examining the crown and the tooth together.
Even with the crown in hand, refitting it onto a tooth that has changed tends to postpone the problem. If the dentist suggests another approach, ask what they saw. Their reasoning should relate to the tooth today and not only to the crown’s age.
Reuse a crown that still fits
If fit and support are good, the recovered crown can keep protecting the tooth. Ask whether it needs any preparation, or the tooth any repair, before it is secured.
Learn why it slipped out
An examination can reveal decay, a damaged core or bite issues behind the loss. Ask what contributed and how the plan addresses it so it is less likely to happen again.
Ask whether the refit is temporary
A crown may be reattached as the finished treatment or as protection while other work is planned. Confirm which, so you can plan any further trips.
What the appointment involves
Tooth first, crown second
Whether or not you have the crown, the visit starts with the tooth. If the crown is available, the dentist then decides whether reuse is appropriate, and the findings may point to another plan.
Assess the tooth and any crown you bring
The dentist examines the exposed tooth and, if you have it, the crown and its interior. Symptoms and dental history guide whether imaging is needed.
Discuss the findings and the options
Fit, damage and support are reviewed. If the crown is missing, cracked or the tooth has changed, you will hear the alternatives, what they involve and the likely costs.
Refit or protect the tooth
If the crown can be reused, the surfaces are cleaned and prepared and a professional cement or bonding agent is applied. If not, the dentist can discuss how to cover and protect the tooth in the meantime, rather than leaving it exposed.
Check the result and plan ahead
The crown’s seating, contacts and your bite are reviewed, and leftover cement is cleared. Ask about eating, cleaning and any follow-up appointments.
Afterwards
Keep it where it belongs
Your aftercare depends on what was done and which material was used. Ask for clear instructions before you go, especially if a temporary crown or temporary refit is involved or you are still frozen.
Follow the eating instructions
Respect the timing and food cautions given for this crown. Previous advice may not apply. While frozen, take care not to bite your cheek or lip.
Keep the margins clean
Brush and floss gently around the crown as shown. Report floss that catches, gum soreness or a rough feel rather than picking at it.
Call early if it loosens again
Should it start to move or your bite feel different, contact the clinic before it comes out. A crown checked early is less likely to be lost a second time.
Patient information: NHS Wales — lost filling or crown
Lost crown questions(905) 876-4488
What if I cannot find it?
Crown or no crown, the tooth underneath needs a look. These answers explain what happens in each case.
Can anything be done if the crown is completely lost?
Yes. Recementation is not possible without the crown, but the dentist can examine the tooth and discuss protecting it and making a new crown. The tooth should not be left exposed for long.
I think I swallowed my crown. Should I worry?
Tell the team when you call. Swallowed crowns often pass on their own, but if you develop coughing, wheezing, chest pain or difficulty breathing, seek medical help immediately, as it may have been inhaled.
Can a crown that passed through my digestive system be reused?
Be open with the dentist about where the crown has been. They can explain whether reusing it is appropriate in your situation or whether making a new crown would be the better option, and why.
Is a temporary crown possible while a new one is made?
Often, yes. A temporary cover can protect the tooth between appointments. The dentist will explain whether it is suitable for your tooth and how to care for it.
Does it matter that the tooth has stopped hurting?
A tooth that stops hurting is not necessarily healthy. Teeth with root canal treatment, in particular, may not give warning signs. The fit and support still need to be examined.
From Erin, how can I make the visit go smoothly?
When you call, explain whether you have the crown and how the tooth feels. Bring the crown if you found it, and ask what the first visit is likely to cover so you can plan around any further appointments.
Lost crown help for Erin
Bring the crown, or just bring yourself
Crown off, or gone altogether? Phone our Bronte Street team either way. Bring the crown if you have it. We will examine the tooth, check any crown you bring, explain the findings and talk through the most suitable way to protect the tooth.
If you might have inhaled the crown, seek medical care first. For severe pain, swelling, a moving crown or a recent injury, call so the team can advise on timing.
Visit Milton Dental ClinicUnit 1, 342 Bronte St. S, Milton, ON L9T 5B7Get directions
Clinic hours
- Monday–Thursday
- 11am–7pm
- Friday–Sunday
- By appointment only
Areas we serve
- Milton
- Oakville
- Mississauga
- Georgetown
- Halton Hills
- Acton
- Campbellville
- Brampton
- Burlington
- Puslinch
- Rockwood
- Erin
- Caledon
- Etobicoke
- Old Milton
- Bronte Meadows
- Timberlea
- Dorset Park
- Dempsey
- Clarke
- Beaty
- Coates
- Harrison
- Scott
- Willmott
- Ford
- Bowes
- Cobden
- Walker
- Mountain View
- Milton Heights
- Hawthorne Village
- Valley View
- Fallingbrook
- Nassagaweya
- Trafalgar
- Esquesing
- Nelson
- Brookville
- Moffat
- Glen Williams
- Norval
- Limehouse
- Stewarttown
- Ashgrove
- Hornby
- Silver Creek
- Speyside
- Scotch Block
- North Oakville
- River Oaks
- Glen Abbey
- West Oak Trails
- Palermo
- Bronte Creek
- College Park
- Joshua Creek
- Uptown Core
- Preserve
- Iroquois Ridge
- Lisgar
- Meadowvale
- Meadowvale Village
- Churchill Meadows
- Erin Mills
- Central Erin Mills
- Streetsville
- East Credit
- Creditview
- Heartland
- Sheridan
- Mount Pleasant
- Credit Valley
- Huttonville
- Churchville
- Springbrook
- Northwest Brampton
- Bram West
- Fletcher's Meadow
- Fletcher's Creek South
- Alton Village
- Orchard
- Millcroft
- Headon Forest
- Tansley
- Brant Hills
- Tyandaga
- Kilbride
- Lowville
- Aberfoyle
- Morriston
- Arkell
- Hillsburgh
- Freelton
- Carlisle
- Waterdown
- Flamborough
- Mountsberg
