What To Do When You Lose A Filling
Having a filling pop out of your tooth can be a traumatic experience. Whether the whole filling falls out or just part of it, the rough edges can feel annoying in your mouth, and there may be pain or sensitivity in the tooth. If you have fillings in your teeth, it's important to be prepared and know what to do should one happen to fall out.
Don't worry about saving the filling.
Unless you have a gold filling, which is very rare these days, there is no need to save the filling. Your dentist will use new filling material when he or she repairs your tooth. Mercury amalgam and composite, the most common filling materials, are quite inexpensive, so you won't save any money by holding onto the filling.
Pack the hole with temporary filler.
Visit your local pharmacy. They should carry a product called temporary dental filler. It's like a putty that you can shape with your fingers and press into the hole. Follow the instructions on the back of the package to fill in the hole in your tooth. This should keep you from constantly playing with the hole with your tongue, and it should relieve most of the pain or sensitivity you're experiencing.
Call your dentist.
Do not put off calling your dentist or figure you'll just have the issue fixed the next time you go in for something else. When you're missing a filling, the deeper layers of your tooth are exposed. This makes them susceptible to additional decay. If you wait too long to have the filling replaced, the chances will increase that you'll need to have the tooth extensively remodeled, capped with a crown, or even pulled. The temporary filler is not a replacement for dental care – it's just a short term fix.
Tell your dentist what happened; he or she will ask which tooth it is, and whether you're in any pain. An appointment will be made either for the same day or within a couple of days.
Baby your tooth while you await your appointment.
While you're waiting for your dentist appointment, be careful not to chew on the side of the mouth with the missing filling, as you are at an increased risk of chipping that tooth. Stay away from very sticky or crunchy foods. Be sure to floss and brush your teeth very thoroughly, so decay does not have a chance to set in within the exposed tooth.
When your dentist appointment arrives, your dentist will remove any of the previous filling that is still in place, prepare the tooth with a little drilling, and then apply a new filling. The process is pretty much the same as having the original filling placed. While having a filling fall out may initially cause you concern, it's a very common issue that dentists deal with all of the time. If you're looking for a dentist in your area, contact Kappenman Family Dental.