Do it Yourself Dental Cap Cement

Unfortunately, dental caps, also known as crowns, don't always last forever. The Columbia University College of Dental Medicine notes that caps, which cover the tops of damaged teeth, generally last for seven years, although some can endure for up to 40 years. If your cap comes loose and falls out, the first thing you'll want to do is schedule an appointment with your dentist--preferably for the next day.

Stopgap Repairs

• Without a cap, the exposed tooth area can cause pain when exposed to temperature, air and pressure. A temporary solution is to slip the cap back on your tooth using dental cap cement. This is not a permanent solution to your problem and should not replace the services of your dentist; keeping the cap on your tooth is merely a way to reduce discomfort should your cap fall off at an inopportune time, such as at night or over the weekend.

  Before you try to place the cap back over your tooth, make sure that you clean it well first. Remaining cement and other debris can be gently picked out of the underside of the crown with a toothpick, after which it can be cleaned with a wet cotton swab. Once the loose cap has been cleaned and is dry, it can be temporarily put back on your exposed tooth.

The Right Stuff

• The Columbia University College of Dental Medicine notes that dental cement (also called tooth cement), which can be found in the dental product aisle of your drugstore, pharmacy or market, is one way to temporarily adhere a loose cap to your tooth pending your dental appointment. Recapit No-Mix Cement and Dentemp One-Step Dental Cement are two consumer brands you might see on the shelves. There are also powdered tooth cements that can be mixed with water prior to use.

  Ready-to-use dental cements are applied in a thin layer to the inside of the dry cap with a small applicator, after which they are placed on the moist tooth area. If you bite down firmly and find that the crown doesn't fit, your placement might be off. Remove the crown and try placing it again until it feels comfortable. After a few minutes, the mouth can be rinsed to remove excess cement debris. Dental cement takes a while to set (between one and three hours), so it's best to avoid eating until it dries completely.

  If you cannot find dental cement at your local store, other options include denture adhesive or petroleum jelly, notes the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. But whatever you do, never use household glues, such as rubber cement or super glue. These are unsafe to put in your mouth, and they also damage your tooth and crown.

Other Options

• It might not always be necessary to use dental cap cement to secure your crown until you see your dentist. The Columbia University College of Dental Medicine notes that you can always dab clove oil on the exposed tooth or apply dental cement to it directly pending your appointment if you're experiencing discomfort. If you choose to go this route, make sure to keep your loose cap somewhere secure, such as in a plastic bag, so you can take it to your dentist. If your tooth shows little decay, your dentist may be able to replace the cap rather than place a brand new one.