What to do before you get to the office

• Find the crown if you can and rinse it. Keep it safe in a clean container.
• Do not chew on that side.
• Skip household glue or improvising a stick-on fix. Call us so we can tell you what is safe for your situation.
• Call (949) 251-0011 as soon as you can. We hold emergency time on weekdays, and a person answers.

If you swallowed the crown, that usually passes without harm. Call anyway. We do not need the old crown to protect the tooth and plan a replacement.

If you cannot find it, same story: we clean and cover the tooth the same day when needed, take a digital scan, and make a new crown that fits.

Why crowns come off

You do not need to diagnose the cause before you call. At the visit we sort among the usual ones:

• Cement that wore out after years of chewing (crown and tooth often still fine)
• Decay at the edge that weakened the tooth underneath
• Sticky or hard foods (caramel, taffy, ice)
• A fracture in the tooth that made the crown lose its grip

Temporary cover vs putting the old crown back

Recement works when the crown is undamaged and the tooth underneath is healthy. We inspect both, clean off old cement, bond the crown back (often about twenty minutes), and check the bite so it feels like it did before.

A new crown is the path when there is decay, the tooth has broken, or the old crown cannot be reused. Same day, I protect the exposed tooth with a temporary crown so it is less sensitive and less at risk. A quick digital scan (no goopy trays) captures the tooth and bite. About two weeks later the final porcelain crown is fitted, checked, and bonded.

Temporary crowns need careful chewing on that side until the final one seats. If a temporary loosens, call. Do not wait for the permanent appointment if the tooth is open again.

Come in sooner if pain or swelling shows up

Call the same day either way. Come in with higher urgency if you have throbbing pain, swelling, a bad taste that will not go away, or a sharp edge cutting your tongue or cheek. Those signs can mean infection or a break that needs more than a simple recement.

Most emergency exams and X-rays are covered by PPO plans. You hear findings, options, and cost before treatment starts.