A dentist replaces the filling or recements the crown. If the tooth is sensitive or painful, they will check whether the nerve is involved.
Find an emergency dentist →Emergency guide
A filling or crown has come out. What now?
A lost filling leaves a hole that food packs into and the nerve may be exposed. Keep it clean, cover it with pharmacy dental cement, and see a dentist within a few days — sooner if it hurts.
See a dentist within 2–3 days
Step by step
Do this now
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Keep the crown, if you have one
Clean it gently and bring it with you. A crown that still fits can often be recemented for a fraction of the cost of a new one.
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Clean the tooth and the gap
Brush gently and rinse with warm salt water after eating so food does not sit in the hole.
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Use temporary dental cement from a pharmacy
It is designed for this and holds for days to weeks. Do not use superglue or household adhesive.
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Eat on the other side
Soft, cool food. Avoid sticky sweets and hard crusts that can pull a temporary repair out or split the tooth.
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Call a dentist
Say whether the tooth is sensitive to cold, hurts when you bite, or is pain-free. That decides whether you need a filling, a crown or a root canal.
Avoid
What not to do
- Superglue or household adhesives — they are toxic and make the repair harder
- Pushing a crown back on with force if it does not seat
- Leaving food trapped in the cavity
- Chewing gum on that side
- Waiting weeks because it does not hurt yet
Where to go
Dentist or emergency room?
Go to an emergency room if there is facial swelling, fever, or trouble swallowing or breathing. A lost filling alone is not an ER problem.
What it costs
Treatment and price ranges
National benchmarks adjusted for Wisconsin, not quotes from a specific clinic. Ask for a written estimate before treatment starts.
Near you
Emergency dentists by city
Each city page lists verified dentists with phone numbers and hours, with the clinics that list emergency care shown first. Call before you travel — hours change.
Lost filling or crown — questions people ask
Can I just leave it?
No. The exposed dentine decays quickly, and a tooth that could have been filled for $150–$400 can need a $700–$1,800 root canal within months.
How long does temporary cement last?
Days to a few weeks if you avoid chewing on it. It is a bridge to a dental appointment, not a repair.
Can I recement my own crown?
With pharmacy temporary cement, yes, if it seats cleanly and does not rock. If it will not sit flat, do not force it — a crown that is off by a millimetre can change your bite.
Will it hurt?
Expect sensitivity to cold and sweet. Sharp or lingering pain, or pain when you bite, suggests the nerve is exposed and needs to be seen sooner.
Is a lost filling an emergency?
It is urgent rather than an emergency. Call within a couple of days; the same day if you are in pain or the tooth is badly broken.