A diligent at-home dental hygiene routine combined with a routine checkup and cleaning every six months can prevent dental problems like cavities and gum disease. However, there’s no guarantee that you’ll never have an emergency.
For example, you might bite into something hard or sticky and dislodge a filling! While you might not consider it urgent if it doesn’t hurt, you should call your dentist sooner rather than later. The longer you wait, the more likely you will develop an infection or sustain additional damage. Keep reading to learn more about why this happens and what you should do!
Why Did My Dental Filling Fall Out?
Your dentist repairs cavities by placing a tooth-colored filling made of resilient composite resin. Although these are intended to be durable enough to resist damage from daily use, they aren’t intended to last forever. They typically last between 5 to 10+ years, depending on how well you maintain them. If you’ve had your filling for many years, it might simply be old and worn and became dislodged.
You might also lose a restoration due to:
- New decay development in the already-treated tooth.
- Chewing or biting too hard.
- Eating foods too crunchy or chewy.
- Grinding your teeth (bruxism).
- Physical trauma.
- Eroded bonding material.
How Should I Handle a Lost Dental Filling?
It’s natural to feel scared or unsure what to do if you’ve just realized a filling fell out, but your dental team has your back! You can help yourself by:
- Step 1: Find the missing pieces and store them in a baggy or container to take to your dental appointment when it’s time to leave. Be careful not to swallow any bits that may be left in your mouth.
- Step 2: Call your dentist and let them know what happened. They’ll schedule an appropriate time to see you and may provide additional care instructions over the phone for you to follow while you wait.
- Step 3: Rinse your mouth with salt water to naturally disinfect your mouth and eliminate any food, dirt, or debris that might cause an infection.
- Step 4: Avoid biting or chewing anything on that side of your mouth until it has been treated.
- Step 5: Address discomfort with over-the-counter meds like Tylenol or ibuprofen. If there are sharp edges of enamel, you might cover them with dental wax to protect the tender tissues in your mouth.
Once you arrive at the dentist’s office, they’ll determine the extent of the harm done and recommend appropriate treatments based on their findings, like replacing your filling or providing a dental crown instead.
Meet the Author
Dr. Joshua Kuykendall takes pride in helping people of all ages build and maintain the happiest, healthiest versions of their smiles. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery at The University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry and is an active member of several prestigious organizations, including the American Dental Association. He enjoys building relationships with patients to tailor treatment plans to meet their unique goals and concerns. Then, he utilizes state-of-the-art equipment to enhance their comfort while delivering accurate results intended to last. If you’ve lost a filling, you can request an appointment on the website or call (281) 353-9797.