Lost Filling or Crown in Leeds
A filling or crown that comes out leaves the inside of the tooth exposed. It is usually painless for a day or two, then becomes sharply sensitive to cold, sweet things and air. Twilight Dental can re-cement or replace it 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at our clinic in Woodhouse, Leeds.
What to do straight away
- Keep the crown — if it is intact it can very often be cleaned and cemented back on, which costs far less than a new one.
- Rinse the crown and store it somewhere safe; do not try to glue it back with household or superglue.
- Temporary dental cement from a pharmacy is fine for a night or two, but it is not a repair.
- Avoid chewing on that side and keep the area clean.
- Cold air and cold drinks will sting — this is exposed dentine, not necessarily nerve damage.
- Call 0113 819 7865; reception is answered around the clock.
Why fillings and crowns come out
Decay underneath
The most common reason. The tooth beneath has softened, so the restoration loses its grip.
Cement failure
Over years, the cement holding a crown gradually washes out.
A fractured tooth
Part of the tooth wall breaks away and the restoration comes with it.
Sticky foods
Toffee and chewing gum can pull out a restoration that was already loose.
Grinding and clenching
Heavy loading fatigues both the filling and the tooth around it.
Very large old fillings
A filling replacing most of the tooth has little to hold on to and eventually gives way.
What we do at your appointment
- Examination and X-ray to check for decay under the restoration and confirm the tooth and root are sound.
- Cleaning the tooth. Old cement and any decay are removed.
- Re-cementing your crown where the crown and the underlying tooth are both in good condition — the quickest and least expensive outcome.
- A new filling or crown if the original is broken, or the tooth beneath has changed shape. A temporary restoration protects the tooth while a new crown is made.
- Root canal treatment if decay has reached the nerve, followed by rebuilding the tooth.
Can I just leave it?
Not for long. Without its filling or crown, the remaining tooth is unsupported and decay progresses quickly through exposed dentine. Neighbouring teeth also drift into the space over weeks, so a crown that would have slipped straight back on may no longer fit. Most patients who wait end up needing more treatment than they would have done in the first week.
Bring the crown with you
If you still have the crown, bring it. In a large proportion of cases we can clean and re-cement the original crown at the same appointment, which is quicker and much cheaper than making a new one. Even if it turns out not to be reusable, it tells us exactly what shape and shade to reproduce. You can see what each option costs on our price list.
Lost fillings and crowns — your questions answered
Can my old crown be put back on?
Very often, yes, provided the crown is intact and the tooth underneath is healthy. That is the first thing we check.
Is superglue safe to use on a crown?
No. Household adhesives are toxic to the pulp, set in the wrong position and make proper re-cementing much harder. Use pharmacy temporary dental cement if you need something overnight.
How urgent is a lost filling?
It is not usually painful at first, but it should be seen within a few days. Exposed dentine decays fast and the tooth walls can fracture without support.
My tooth is very sensitive to cold now. Is the nerve damaged?
Sharp, short-lived sensitivity to cold is normal with exposed dentine and usually settles once the tooth is restored. Pain that lingers for minutes or wakes you at night suggests the nerve is involved and needs assessing sooner.
Can you see me this evening?
Yes. We are open 24 hours a day, and reception books emergency patients around the clock on 0113 819 7865.
Do I need to be registered with you?
No. We see emergency patients without registration or referral.
Crown come out? Bring it in.
Call 0113 819 7865 at any hour, or book online. If your crown is intact there is a good chance it goes straight back on.
