Dr. Ash Sagar 
When a filling falls out, you don’t want to wait. It is essential to get the tooth fixed as soon as possible.
The longer you wait without seeking treatment, the higher the chance there is that bacteria in your mouth will infect the space. It can lead to serious health problems if left untreated for too long. A missing or broken filling is painful and should be repaired as soon as possible to avoid further damage to the tooth. Even if you have no pain and do not need a replacement right away, we recommend that you schedule an appointment with us for any loose fillings so that we can ensure they are adequately secured before they fall out.
Dental emergencies are common and easy to fix with a visit to your dentist or family doctor. Don’t delay – call us today! We provide emergency dental services, including broken crowns and bridges, chipped teeth, and lost fillings. We will work with you to determine what type of treatment is best for your unique situation and create a plan for restoring your smile immediately without compromising on quality care or comfort levels.
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What Should I Do If My Fillings Fall Out?
It’s critical to have your broken filling replaced as soon as possible if it becomes loose or slips out. Here’s what you should do.
- Call your dentist right away. When you call, let them know if you are experiencing pain and ask what they can suggest to protect the exposed tooth from further damage until your dental appointment.
- Bring any missing fillings that you can locate with you to the dentist. They can determine if it can be reused.
- The exposed tooth needs to be protected while you wait to see your dentist to prevent further damage. Rinse your mouth with warm salt water to keep the area clean and remove any food particles. Cleansing your mouth with salt water can help reduce pain, inflammation, and prevent bacteria buildup. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water and gargle for a few seconds. After rinsing thoroughly, gently brush the area where the filling fell out. Then, apply a temporary filling product, like dental cement, to your tooth. The dentist will remove this temporary tooth filling before the replacement filling is placed. Until then, do not chew on the exposed area of the tooth.
- Take over-the-counter pain medication like Ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) if you're in pain. Be careful not to exceed the recommended daily dosage. You can also use clove oil to treat the exposed area. The active compound in cloves, eugenol, can reduce inflammation and tooth pain.
- If there is swelling, an ice pack with a cloth can help reduce inflammation. Hold a towel-wrapped ice pack against your face or jaw in 15-minute intervals every few hours.
Is a Fallen-out Filling a Dental Emergency?
Dental emergencies are conditions that require immediate dental treatment to reduce severe pain, stop bleeding, or prevent infection.
A missing or loose filling is not usually an urgent dental issue. It may qualify for emergency dental care if the pain is severe or your gums are bleeding and inflamed, but you can wait up to 3 days in most cases.
When Should I Visit a Dentist?
If a filling falls out, it’s important to visit your dentist as soon as possible. If you wait too long before replacing the old one, tooth decay and other problems can develop over time in that area of your mouth.
How Long Can You Wait if a Filling Falls Out?
If your filling fell out, but you’re not in pain, it’s not an immediate emergency. You can wait up to 3 days, or a week at the most. Even so, it would be best if you still visited a dentist since the cracked filling in your tooth is exposed to bacteria, and it will continue to rot. You need to get it fixed as soon as possible.
What Causes a Filling to Fall Out?
Fillings can last anywhere from five to fifteen years, depending on the material and how well you take care of them. However, tooth fillings can sometimes fall out earlier than expected for other reasons, such as:
- New decay around the filling: Eating too many acidic and sugary foods can lead to tooth decay, which will break down the seal between your filling and teeth. It causes food debris and bacteria to accumulate underneath it, resulting in new tooth decay that may cause your filling to fall out slowly.
- Bruxism: The habit of clenching your jaws or grinding your teeth while you sleep can also slowly cause damage to your fillings, causing them to fall out.
- Biting into hard, sticky, or crunchy foods: A dental filling coming loose due to biting into hard, sticky, or crunchy foods is a fairly common occurrence. These types of food can loosen dental restorations or cause them to crack. Refrain from overindulging in them if you have dental fillings and increase your intake of low-acid and low-sugar foods
- Trauma to the tooth or root: Dental fillings can be loosened by an accident, trauma, or facial injury.
- Chemical reaction: A chemical reaction can loosen the bond of the filling to the tooth. It occurs when bacteria in the mouth react with acid, creating an acidic environment that can weaken your tooth enamel and break down the bond of your fillings to your teeth over time.
- Seal failureg: If your fillings are new and fell out soon after, they may not have been adequately bonded and sealed to your tooth.
Final Thoughts
If your filling falls out, it is crucial to act quickly. Call your dentist as soon as possible. A lost filling can be painful and cause other problems if not treated quickly. You are less likely to experience nerve damage. You will spend less on treatment if you visit the dentist sooner rather than later.
There are many reasons why fillings fall out of teeth, but the most common is tooth decay or disease in the tooth root area. The sooner you get treatment for this problem, the less likely it will become an even more serious issue with time.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation about replacing your missing dental filler! We are happy to answer all of your queries, so please feel free to ask anything below in our comments section.
We look forward to hearing from you!
