It came off with a bite of something firm
Jot down the food involved and any shifting you felt in the days before. Keep it sealed and bring it in. Leave it off the tooth, and avoid chewing anything hard on that side while you wait.
Restorative Dentistry
Crown Recementation in Mississauga
Look inside the crown and you may find more than cement. For people travelling from Mississauga, we examine what came away and what stayed behind, then explain whether the same crown can be refitted.
Reading the inside of a crownBook a look at your crown
What is that piece stuck in there?
Turn a detached crown over and it tells part of the story. A clean, hollow shell is one thing. A chunk of tooth-coloured or metallic material wedged inside is another, because it may be a filling core, a post, or actual tooth that broke away with the crown.
That is why recementation is a decision rather than a reflex. The procedure reattaches an existing crown, and it suits situations where the crown is intact and the tooth beneath still offers enough support. When a piece of the foundation has come out with it, the tooth may need rebuilding before any crown can hold.
Please do not pick at or clean out whatever is inside. Seal the crown in a small container, note when and how it came off and bring it to the appointment. The dentist will match what is in the crown to what is left on the tooth and explain clearly whether refitting is realistic.
Clues worth sharing
Small details, real differences
Pain may be absent, and the call is still worthwhile. Let the team know whether the crown is completely out, what you can see inside it and whether the tooth has been bothering you.
The stump feels sharp or sensitive
A rough edge or a sensitive spot is worth describing, including what triggers it and how long it lasts. The remaining tooth has to be examined in its own right, so do not assume the crown going back will cure it.
Previous refits have not lasted
Repeated loosening calls for a broader look at the tooth, the crown and the forces from your bite. Share how many times it has happened and when it was last reattached.
If the crown is loose but still on, call rather than tugging it off. Mention pain, swelling or recent trauma when arranging your visit.
Why reuse can be worthwhile
An intact crown on a firm base deserves a second chance
When the crown has no cracks, fits accurately and the tooth underneath is in good enough shape, reattaching it can be a sensible step. It may save the time and work of making a new crown. Only examining both parts together can confirm that.
Putting a crown back on a tooth that has lost part of its core, or developed decay, tends to leave the trouble in place. If the dentist recommends something other than recementation, ask which finding led there. The reasons should be about the tooth as it stands now.
Keep using a crown that is still sound
Where fit and support are adequate, the crown may continue to protect the tooth. Ask whether any rebuilding is needed beneath it before it is secured.
Identify why it came away
The material inside the crown and the shape of the remaining tooth can reveal the cause. Ask what the dentist thinks happened and how the plan addresses it.
Confirm how long the fix is meant to last
A refit can be the final treatment or a measure to protect the tooth while more care is organised. Make sure you know which applies to you.
Step by step
Matching the crown to the tooth
The visit is built around deciding whether reuse is appropriate. Because the answer may lead to a different treatment, plan for a discussion before assuming the crown will be cemented that day.
Compare both sides
The dentist examines the crown’s interior, the remaining tooth and whatever came away. Your history and symptoms help determine whether an X-ray or other tests should come first.
Explain what the pieces show
Fit, damage and how much support remains are reviewed. If a core has broken or decay is found, you will hear what that changes, what the alternatives are and what they would cost.
Prepare and attach, if suitable
Where the crown can be reused, both surfaces are freed of old cement and conditioned, and the dentist applies a cement or bonding material chosen for that crown. The method varies with the restoration, which is why household glues are never appropriate.
Check the bite and plan follow-up
Fit, contacts with neighbouring teeth and your bite are checked, and excess cement is removed. Ask when you can chew normally, how to keep it clean and whether more treatment is planned.
After recementation
Advice tailored to what was done
Your aftercare depends on the cement, the tooth and anything else carried out at the visit. Ask for clear guidance before leaving, especially when the crown is a temporary refit or you are still frozen.
Hold off chewing for as long as advised
Different materials set at different speeds, so stick to the timing your dentist gives. Earlier crowns may have come with other rules. Be careful not to bite your cheek or tongue while numb.
Clean carefully where crown meets gum
Brush and clean between the teeth using the approach recommended. If floss keeps catching, the gum is irritated or the edge feels changed, tell the team instead of scraping it.
Report looseness or an odd bite
Should the crown start to move again or feel as if it lands first, have it checked. Call and describe what changed, and avoid repeatedly testing it.
Patient information: NHS Wales — lost filling or crown
Mississauga crown questions(905) 876-4488
Answers about what came out with your crown
A crown can look fine while the tooth beneath has changed. These answers explain how the examination guides the decision.
There is a metal pin in my crown. What is it?
It may be a post that was placed to help support the crown, often in a tooth that had root canal treatment. If it has come out with the crown, the dentist will need to assess the tooth carefully before deciding on the next step.
Should I scrape the old cement out of the crown?
No. Leave the inside as it is. Cleaning or scraping can damage the crown or remove clues about what happened. A gentle rinse with water is enough before storing it.
The remaining tooth looks dark. Is that a problem?
Colour changes can have several explanations, including older materials, staining or decay. The dentist will examine the tooth and explain what they see. Do not try to judge it yourself from appearance alone.
Does pain-free mean I can put off the visit?
Comfort does not confirm the tooth is healthy, and a tooth with previous root canal treatment may not hurt even when something is wrong. An uncovered tooth is also more exposed, so it is better to arrange a visit soon.
If my crown has come off twice, is a third refit worth it?
Possibly, but the dentist will want to understand why it keeps happening. Ask what is causing the pattern and whether another recementation is likely to last.
Can I send a photo from Mississauga before deciding to come in?
A photo can help the team understand the situation and plan a suitable appointment, but it cannot confirm whether recementation is possible. That usually requires an examination of the crown and tooth in person.
Mississauga to Bronte Street
Bring both pieces of the puzzle
Contact our Bronte Street practice about a crown that is loose or has come off. Bring it along so we can examine the crown with the tooth, explain our findings and discuss a suitable way to restore and protect it.
Some situations need a conversation before the visit: a crown that is moving, marked pain, swelling or a recent injury. Call so the team can discuss timing and next steps.
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
