Why Do Crowns and Veneers Come Off?
Identifying the cause is essential for a lasting result; repeated loss means an unresolved problem underneath.
Decay progressing underneath
The most common cause: bacteria seep through the microscopic gap at the crown margin. This is invisible from outside, so the tooth beneath must be checked before re-cementing.
Cement breaking down over time
Cements fatigue over the years under temperature changes, acidic foods and chewing forces. Here the crown and tooth are both sound and re-cementing suffices.
Sticky foods and grinding
Sticky foods pull the crown off, which is why these cases increase during holidays. Grinding applies constant high force, fatiguing the cement and chipping the porcelain — a night guard should be considered.
Crown design and remaining tooth height
Retention depends on the height and surface area of the prepared tooth. A very short stump cannot retain a crown; crown lengthening or a post-and-core may be needed.
What to Do When a Crown Comes Off or a Veneer Breaks
What you do until you reach the clinic determines whether the crown can be reused and how well the tooth is protected.
Storing the crown correctly
- Rinse it gently; do not scrape out the old cement
- Put it in a clean box with a lid — not in a tissue, which gets thrown away
- Bring all pieces if a bridge came off
- Keep any broken porcelain fragments too
Protecting the exposed tooth
The prepared tooth has exposed dentine, which is sensitive and decays quickly. Avoid chewing on that side, sticky and hard foods, and extreme temperatures — but keep brushing gently.
What you must never do
Never use superglue or silicone: they are unsafe and soak into the crown's inner surface, making professional cementing impossible — so a sound crown has to be replaced. Do not reseat it yourself either.
Assessment and Treatment at the Clinic
The first step is assessing the crown and the underlying tooth separately.
Re-cementing
If the crown is intact and the tooth sound and tall enough, it is cleaned and re-cemented, usually in a single short session.
When the underlying structure needs repair
Any decay is cleaned and the tooth reshaped; a core build-up or post-and-core may be needed. If this changes the fit, a new crown is made, with a temporary crown in the interim.
Repairing chipped porcelain
Small porcelain chips can sometimes be repaired in the mouth with composite. If the metal or zirconia substructure has fractured, the crown must be replaced. Repeated chipping usually indicates grinding.
