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      First, it is important to know the difference between a crown (sometimes referred to
as a "cap") and a filling. A filling is usually done in one dental visit, and involves adding the
filling material to the tooth, usually to fill a cavity or to replace part of a tooth which has
broken. A crown is usually done in two or more visits, and is cemented onto the tooth.
Crowns can be tooth-colored (usually porcelain), or gold.
      If a crown has come off of your tooth, you need to see a dentist as soon as possible.
Often, however, this is not really an emergency situation. If the tooth is not at all sensitive,
there is no harm done by waiting a few days. This can allow a patient to get through a
weekend or to get home from a trip in some cases, allowing a more convenient visit to the
dentist. DO NOT wait more than a few days; this can allow the tooth to move. If that
happens, the crown may not be able to be used and a new one will need to be made.
      There is risk involved in placing the crown back on your tooth, since it could come
loose again. There is the risk of choking on the crown if it were to come loose, and there
is a significant risk of swallowing the crown.
      If you do choose to put the crown back on the tooth, you can slightly decrease the
risks by placing some denture adhesive inside the crown; this will provide a little bit of
retention, but it is NOT a secure arrangement. DO NOT use any kind of more permanent
cement. In particular, DO NOT USE CRAZY GLUE OR ANYTHING SIMILAR!!