What to Do If Your Filling Falls Out

When you have a cavity, you receive a filling. The rot and decay from the cavity are removed and cleaned from your tooth. The filling then seals the hole in your tooth, left from the cavity, helping to protect the tooth from further decay. Unfortunately, fillings do not last forever, and at some point in time, they can fall out. Here is everything you need to know about what to do when a filling falls out, and whether you need to treat it as a dental emergency or not.

Why Your Filling Might Fall Out

There are a few reasons why your filling may fall out. One of the most common reasons is due to age. Fillings don’t last forever. They begin to wear out over time. If your filling has loosened, and you don’t have it replaced in time, it could fall out.

What you eat may cause a filling to fall out, too. If you eat something hard, you can crack or damage your filling, which can cause it to loosen and fall out.

The final reason why your filling could fall out is because further decay has occurred. If more decay occurs behind the filling, it can widen the hole, which allows the filling to slide out.

How Do You Know if a Filling Falls Out?

When your filling falls out, you may feel something hard as you bite down or chew. When this occurs, you may realize that something is off. When you run your tongue over your tooth, you may also now feel the hole in your tooth that is exposed thanks to the lost filling. This is a tell-tale sign that the filling has fallen out.

What Should You Do If a Filling Falls Out?

If a filling falls out, there is nothing that you can do in that moment. You can’t save the filling so it can be re-used. Go ahead and throw it away — if you found it when it came out. You need to contact your dentist and let them know that a filling has fallen out. They will then schedule an appointment for you during regular business hours to have a new one placed. In the meantime, you should use salt water rinses to keep the area clear of bacteria. Be sure to brush your teeth routinely as you normally do.

Is Losing a Filling a Dental Emergency?

In most cases, a lost filing is not considered a dental emergency. It’s something that can wait a few days until your dentist can see you. However, if you are in excruciating pain and/or experience swelling in your jaw or face region, you should schedule an appointment with an emergency dentist in Phoenix as soon as possible. This indicates a more serious problem that needs to be dealt with.

What Should You Do Until the Filling Can Be Replaced?

Once you have lost a filling, you may have increased sensitivity in the area. Drinking hot or cold foods and beverages may be uncomfortable. As such, avoid anything that causes this pain. If needed, you can also take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as Tylenol. You can also use home remedies, such as swabbing the area with clove oil, to help the discomfort.

If it’s going to be a few days until a dentist can see you, you may want to consider purchasing over-the-counter dental cements. These cements can be found at most drug stores and big box retailers, such as Target and Wal-Mart. You can dab the dental cement over the damaged tooth to seal the area and decrease tooth sensitivity. This should not be used as a long term solution, but only a temporary one until your dentist can examine and treat you.

Conclusion

Have you had a filling that has fallen out? If you are in severe dental pain, this may be a dental emergency in Phoenix. Here at Dental Brothers, we can help you if you are experiencing a dental emergency  or if you can wait a few days to have the filling replaced. Contact us today and let us help you with your lost filling.