You are eating lunch, take a bite into an apple, and it happens, your filling comes out. While we would like to believe that fillings and dental treatments are permanent fixes, in reality they may not be for you. Would you know what to do if you have a loose filling? First things first, don’t panic, you are not the first person this has happened to, and you won’t be the last. Fillings are strong, and hold up for years or longer, but overtime they can come loose, or even fall out.
What can cause a filling to come out?
There are several reasons that can cause a filling to come out. Some of these you can partially control, while others may be out of your hands. Normal wear from eating, drinking and daily life, impacts your teeth, and depending on where your filling is located, can lead to your fillings getting weakened. Newly formed decay near your existing filling can impact the fillings integrity, causing it to come out. You can reduce the potential impact from these causes with good hygiene practices and semiannual cleanings at your dentist. Other reasons include: faulty/failed installation, trauma, unrelated dental work, eating sticky foods, etc.
What should you do if you think you have a loose filling?
If you suspect that you lost a filling or loose crown, you need to ensure you do not leave the materials freely in your mouth. Dental filling materials are hard, and if left loose in your mouth, they can cause damage to your other teeth. While it is not unsafe to swallow the materials, it would be better to spit them out. You do not need to save filling material (unless it is a crown) as the dentist would not reuse it.
Once you have cleared your mouth, you should gently rinse your mouth to keep the area clean. You should contact your Joliet family dentist immediately to schedule an appointment. If you cannot get in right away, you should try to keep the area clean until you can make the visit. Obviously, if it is going to take a few days to get in, you will be eating and drinking, so you will still need to brush as usual. When you brush an area with an exposed filling, try to be gentle to the area. You can also rinse your mouth with warm salty water.
If you are experiencing pain, you can take IBUprofen or Tylenol as per instructions. Any pain you may experience should be relayed to your dentist immediately.
What will happen at the Dentist?
If you don’t have a dentist, contact us at Shorewood Family Dental Care, in Shorewood Illinois, to help you with your dental emergency. On your visit to address your lost filling, we will exam your tooth to see if there are any further issues to address. You will receive an x-ray and a comprehensive assessment. Once we know how to proceed with treatment, we will numb you with anesthesia before proceeding. Any remaining filling material or decay will be removed, and the area will be treated as necessary, followed by a new filling being applied and smoothed out. We will ensure that your bite is where it needs to be in the impacted area and that you are happy with the repair. If you were experiencing ay pain from the damaged filling, we will address that as well.
Remember, if your filling fell out, don’t panic. Call us at 815-725-5991. Do your best to keep the affected area clean and safe until your appointment.
