What Should I Do If My Filling Falls Out?
If your tooth filling fell out, you could experience anything from light discomfort to pain, or not even notice that it’s out.
Northside Dental Clinic in Springfield, Missouri explains what to do when a filling falls out.
Why do fillings fall out?
- Grinding your teeth while you sleep (Bruxism).
- Plaque buildup
- Vigorous flossing
- Chewing something hard
- Chemical reaction
- Wear and tear over time
It’s usually not an emergency. If you have severe inflammation or gum bleeding, you’ll want to contact your dentist or potentially pay for emergency dental work.
Once a filling falls out, schedule an appointment with a dentist to re-apply your filing. Until you do, make sure not to eat anything too hard or gooey that could seep into your tooth’s impression.
Sometimes a filling will fall out due to cavities building up near the tooth, forcing the filling loose.
What is a dental filling?
When plaque corrodes away a tooth, the gap needs to be filled in order to prevent further decay and eventual extraction. That’s where a filling comes in. These molds come in various materials.
Related Post: How do fillings work to protect your teeth?
What does it feel like when a filling is loose or missing?
There’s often some pain and sensitivity associated with it, or it might be a sharp indentation or hole in your tooth.
If food gets stuck in tiny crevices of your teeth, or if you have hard crunches when eating all sorts of food, your filling is loose or out of your mouth.
If it hurts, use some ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) to numb the discomfort.
What NOT to do when a filling falls out
Do not postpone calling the dentist for an appointment. Chew your food on the opposite side of the missing filling and refrain from touching the area, or chewing on hard foods (nuts, ice, brittle), and clenching or grinding your teeth.
Related Post: Can I eat after getting a filing?
Solutions and steps to take for a lost filling
While you wait for your dental appointment, you’ll want to protect your tooth from any further damage. Gargle with salt water to reduce pain, inflammation, and bacterial buildup.
- Mix 8 ounces of warm water with a half teaspoon of salt.
- Rinse your mouth with the solution and spit it out.
- Then you can apply a temporary filling (dental cement) on the tooth.
You could also apply some clove oil to the tooth. It has numbing and anti-inflammatory properties and can be found in a local drugstore.
Temporary filling kits are found online or at your local Walgreens or Walmart pharmacy. Your dentist will remove this temporary filling before applying the new one.
What are my filling choices?
During your dental visit, we’ll examine your teeth with an x-ray machine to determine how healthy your gums and teeth are, ensuring that there’s no discernible tooth decay or related dental issues.
Then, we’ll review your filling options:
- Porcelain
- Glass ionomer
- Amalgam (silver)
- Ceramic
- Gold
How much does it cost to replace a filling?
- Composite fillings — $90-$300 (per tooth)
- Glass Ionomer fillings — $90-$300 (per tooth)
- Silver amalgam fillings — $50-$200 (per tooth)
- Gold fillings — $500-$4,500 (per tooth)
Get Your Filling Replacement at Northside Dental in Springfield, Missouri
If you’re interested in getting a filling replacement done, our experienced dental professionals can help. Be sure to call our dental office today for more information about scheduling an appointment at (417) 862-2468.