Temporary Crowns: What to Do If One Falls Out, Is Swallowed or Feels Sensitive, and How to Care for It

My temporary crown or temporary filling came out and I can’t go in for a few days. Is that okay?

For a short period it usually does not lead to a serious problem, and it is often managed by avoiding hard or sticky food and chewing on the other side [1]. A temporary crown or temporary filling is a temporary device that covers the trimmed tooth surface while the final restoration is made, preventing irritation and tooth movement. If it stays out for long, the tooth can shift slightly or become sensitive, so getting it reattached as soon as possible is the thing to arrange [2]. Rather than forcing the fallen piece back in, one approach is to tell your treatment team and follow their guidance [2].

When DentStat analyzed 350 patient comments about temporary crowns, there was repeated urgent anxiety about blue or pink temporary material falling out, and worry about situations such as holidays and weekends when it is hard to get to a clinic right away [3].

Situation	Commonly considered response
Temporary piece fell out	Avoid hard or sticky food, chew on the other side, return soon [1][2]
Weekend or holiday when you can’t go in	Manage carefully for a short time; if symptoms worsen, look for emergency care [1]
Swallowed the temporary piece	Small amounts are generally known to pass, but see a doctor if symptoms continue [1]

I swallowed temporary material or a temporary crown. Is it dangerous?

A small amount of swallowed temporary material is generally known to pass through the digestive tract, but if symptoms continue, it should be checked by a doctor [1]. If coughing, pain or a foreign-body feeling keeps coming back, or breathing feels uncomfortable, swallowing must be told apart from inhaling it into the airway, so seeing a doctor is the way to check rather than judging it yourself [1]. Since temporary material is there because the final restoration is about to be placed, after swallowing it the next step is usually to discuss whether a new temporary is needed and how to protect the exposed tooth surface [2]. The comment analysis also showed alarm about swallowing temporary filling material, questions asking whether it would be okay, and questions about whether it could be put back in [3].

My tooth is sensitive and sore during the temporary stage. Was the treatment done wrong?

Not necessarily [1]. In a tooth whose nerve was kept, the trimmed surface covered only by a temporary crown is easily sensitive to temperature, and the sensitivity sometimes improves after the final restoration is cemented [1][2]. Discomfort in the temporary stage does not mean treatment failure, but pain that keeps getting worse or throbbing without any trigger is a sign that the nerve needs to be checked, and you should be seen [1]. The comment analysis included questions about changes in how sensitivity feels, such as a tooth sensitive when chewing in the temporary stage becoming sensitive to cold water after final cementation [3].

Can I brush and floss with a temporary crown?

Yes [2]. However, a temporary crown is only temporarily cemented, so pulling floss out sideways can dislodge it, and care is needed, such as lifting the floss out upward [2]. Brushing gently around the temporary crown is suggested, and not chewing hard or sticky food on that side is also part of preventing it from coming off [2]. Details vary by case, so follow your treatment team’s instructions [2].

Common misconceptions and the facts

• Some worry that “losing a temporary filling is a disaster,” but for a short time it is usually managed by being careful, and returning soon is described as the rule [2].
• Some think “pain in the temporary stage means the treatment failed,” but sensitivity from the exposed trimmed surface is common and can improve after final cementation [1].
• Some also think “it’s only temporary, so it doesn’t matter how I treat it,” but a temporary crown coming off or breaking can affect the fit of the final restoration, so it needs care [2].

The full crown treatment process and the link to root canal treatment are covered in the crown and inlay guide, and regional clinic data in Find a dentist.