Emergency dental treatments
Recementing a crown that has come off: what to do and what we check first
A crown that has come off in one piece can often go straight back on, the same day, in about twenty minutes. What matters is what you do with it in the meantime, and what we find underneath.
Clinically reviewed by Dr Ibraheem Ijaz, Principal Dentist · GDC 301711 · Last reviewed April 2026
What to do with the crown that has come off
Find it and keep it. Rinse it under the tap, put it in a small container or a sealed bag, and bring it with you. Do not wrap it in tissue, which gets thrown away, and do not leave it in a pocket. If the crown came off while eating and you think you may have swallowed it, do not panic; it will pass, but tell us so we can plan a replacement.
Do not glue it back with superglue or any household adhesive. Superglue sets hard and uneven, so the crown sits high, the bite is wrong, the tooth underneath is trapped in a pocket of bacteria and we often cannot remove the glue without damaging the crown. A chemist’s temporary dental cement, used sparingly, is acceptable if you cannot get to us the same day; our guide to temporary fixes before your appointment explains how. Keep the exposed tooth clean and expect it to be sensitive to cold and to biting. If the tooth underneath has had a root canal there will be no sensitivity, but it is more fragile than a live tooth and should not be chewed on.
When a crown can be recemented and when it cannot
The crown itself is rarely the problem. It comes off because the cement has washed out, because decay has softened the tooth it was sitting on, or because the tooth has broken. Which of those happened decides what we can do.
Cement failure only.
Decay under the crown.
The tooth has broken inside the crown.
A post crown has come out.
The crown is damaged.
Recementing a crown step by step
Examination and X-ray.
Cleaning.
Try-in.
Cementing.
Finishing.
Fees for recementing a crown
Recementing is one of the least expensive emergency treatments and usually fits inside the examination slot. If the crown needs replacing, 0% finance over 6 to 18 months is available through Tabeo. The full price list is on the emergency fees page.
| Treatment | Fee (from) |
|---|---|
| Emergency examination including X-rays | £30 |
| Recementing an existing crown | Quoted in writing at the examination |
| Temporary crown, if the original cannot be reused | Quoted at the examination |
| New all-ceramic crown | £750–£1,000 |
| Out-of-hours (after 6pm weekdays, weekends) | Additional charge |
Aftercare once the crown is back on
The first 24 hours. Avoid chewing on the crown for an hour while the cement reaches full strength, and avoid anything sticky, such as toffee, chewing gum or dried fruit, for the rest of the day. If the tooth was sensitive while the crown was off it may take a day or two to settle. Painkillers are rarely needed.
The first week. Chew normally but be sensible with very hard foods. Floss the crown by pulling the floss out sideways rather than snapping it back up, which can catch the margin. If the crown feels high when you bite, do not put up with it; a two-minute adjustment fixes it. Call us if the crown feels loose again, if it comes off, or if the tooth begins to ache on its own, which can mean the nerve was damaged by the period the tooth was exposed.
Why crowns come loose in the first place
Most crowns fail at the cement line after ten or more years of thermal cycling, hot tea and ice cream, which slowly dissolves the cement. Some come off because the tooth underneath was short or tapered and gave the crown little to grip; these may need a different cement or a new crown with a better shape. Grinding or clenching at night puts heavy sideways forces on crowns and shortens their life, and a night guard is worth discussing if you wake with an aching jaw. Decay creeping under the margin is the most common reason a recemented crown fails a second time, which is why we X-ray before we recement rather than simply gluing it back. Our crowns page explains what a modern all-ceramic replacement involves.
Questions, answered
Common questions
Can I glue my crown back on myself?
Not with superglue or household adhesives, which damage the crown and trap bacteria against the tooth. A chemist’s temporary dental cement is acceptable for a day or two until we can see you.
How much does it cost to recement a crown in Sheffield?
At Deepcar Dental Care the emergency examination with X-rays is £30 and the recementing fee is quoted in writing at that visit before we start. It is one of the least expensive emergency treatments.
Is a crown falling off an emergency?
It is urgent rather than dangerous. The exposed tooth is vulnerable to decay, sensitivity and fracture, and a crown left off for weeks may no longer fit because the neighbouring teeth drift. Aim to be seen within a few days.
Why does my crown keep coming off?
Usually because the tooth underneath is short or tapered and gives the crown little to grip, because decay has changed the fit, or because night-time grinding is loosening it. A crown that fails twice normally needs replacing rather than recementing.
Does recementing a crown hurt?
No. The tooth may be sensitive to air and cold while it is uncovered, which we minimise by working quickly, and anaesthetic is rarely needed.
The tooth came out inside the crown. Can it be fixed?
That means the tooth has fractured. If enough root remains above the gum a post and core can rebuild it and a new crown fitted; if not, extraction and replacement with an implant or bridge is the honest option.
How long will a recemented crown last?
If the tooth underneath is sound and the crown seats fully, it can last many more years. If the crown came off because of decay or a poor fit, recementing is a short-term measure and a new crown is the real fix.
In pain? Don’t wait
Same-day emergency appointments, seven days a week.
£30 emergency examination including X-rays. Call now and a real person answers, or grab a slot online.
334 Manchester Road, Deepcar, Sheffield S36 2RH · Free parking