Dentures: Facts, Figures and Friendly Advice for Seniors

How to Handle Your Dental Filling If It Falls Out

22 May 2018

Herman Kim

If you have had to deal with dental issues such as tooth decay or broken teeth, dental fillings are usually used to fill the cavities left in your teeth by such problems. However, most dental fillings won't last forever, and at some point, you may lose yours. Losing dental fillings can be a result of an accident, injuries or simply biting down on an object or even food that's quite hard. Whatever the cause, it's important that you contact an emergency dentist immediately to schedule an appointment for treatment. However, before you see the dentist, there are a few things you can do.

Try Slipping the Filling Back In

It is worth noting that an exposed tooth can be an invitation to tooth sensitivity and a great deal of pain. Therefore, if you still have the filling after it falls out, you can try to gently and carefully slip it back into position. However, keep in mind that oral hygiene is of vital importance at this stage. Therefore, before you slip your dental filling back into your tooth, clean it thoroughly, and brush over the tooth cavity carefully too. To ensure the dental filling is firmly held in place, you can look for a temporary tooth cement in your local pharmacy and coat it over the filling before slipping it into your tooth.

However, the pharmacy could be far away, or you may not be comfortable with the idea of slipping the filling back in. In some cases, you may even lose your dental filling without noticing, which means slipping it back won't be an option. In such cases, you can consider using a temporary filling material such as a sugar-free gum. Putting dental cement directly on your tooth can also work.

Managing Pain and Sensitivity

You can expect some pain and tooth sensitivity after your dental filling falls out. Over-the-counter pain medications can help alleviate the pain or tooth sensitivity. However, for sensitivity, covering the exposed areas of your tooth is usually the best solution. Therefore, the sugar-free gum or dental cement would come in handy here. If you don't have pain medications, you can try clove oil. Using a cotton swab, gently apply some clove oil over the sensitive or painful area. Clove oil works well because it numbs your gums as well as the tooth, and this can help alleviate any discomfort.

Since you may not even notice that your dental filling has fallen out, it's crucial to pay attention to sudden tooth pain as well as to sensitivity to cold and hot foods and drinks. The filling could have already fallen out at this stage, or it may simply be getting lose or worn.

Share

Search