Handling a Lost Dental Filling

At a restaurant, you and your friends order some chips and salsa. As you take that first crunchy bite, you feel a dental filling come out. You probably have several questions on your mind at that moment: How did this happen? Is this an urgent dental emergency? What should I do until I can see a dentist? How will a lost dental filling be treated? Get some clear, simple answers right here in this post!

How Can a Filling Come Out?

If you’ve had your filling for a long time, you may be wondering how it suddenly could have failed. Unfortunately, dental work doesn’t last forever. Over time, the integrity of restorations and the adhesive material used to keep them in place can weaken. In addition, certain behaviors can speed up the wear and tear on your fillings, such as chewing on ice or other hard objects. The immense stress can cause the filling to fail prematurely.

Is Losing a Filling Really a Dental Emergency?

Perhaps when you lose your filling, you don’t experience any pain. This may give you a false sense of security and make you think that you can wait to get treatment until your next checkup and cleaning appointment.

However, without the filling to cover the tooth, the inner layers of the tooth become exposed to bacteria and acids in your mouth, potentially leading to decay. As decay reaches deeper into the tooth, the more sensitive pulp, where the tooth’s nerve is, can send excruciatingly painful signals to your brain. Plus, you might find it difficult to eat with an incomplete tooth. The sooner you get treated, the better protected your tooth can be.

What Should You Do If You Lose a Filling?

The first thing you need to do in this scenario is call your dentist’s office. They can schedule an immediate appointment for you and give you personalized advice for handling the situation. Then, if possible, find the filling and rinse it off with clean water. After swishing warm saltwater in your mouth, apply a dab of toothpaste to the filling and reposition it on the tooth. This should hold it in place temporarily.

If you are unable to find the restoration, you can put some sugar-free gum over the tooth to keep bacteria from it until you’re able to come in for a more long-term solution.

Will Your Filling Need to Be Replaced?

The treatment your dentist uses for this problem depends on how old and damaged your filling is. Sometimes, newer or less worn fillings can simply be reattached, but often they need to be replaced entirely.

Hopefully, you don’t have to experience losing a dental filling; however, if you do, now you know what to ensure the best results for your tooth. You can act quickly to address the problem and get your smile back to normal.

About the Author

Dr. Ahmed Saad has been practicing dentistry for more than 15 years. Since earning his dental degree at the University of Southern California School of Dentistry, he has continued to sharpen his skills and knowledge in order to provide high-quality care to every patient. He has also volunteered his services with UCLA/USC mobile clinic and the Downey Dental Association, which help underserved children with essential dental care. If you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Saad, you can contact Pace Dental online or by calling the office at 703-705-7476.