A Tooth Exposed: What to Do If You Lose a Dental Filling

Naturally, no one wants a filling to fall out of their mouth. This sort of incident is scary and even painful. That said, it can and does happen from time to time. You ought to prepare yourself for such a situation. Luckily, it’s not hard to learn the proper steps to take. Your Richardson dentist can even offer some relevant tips. To that end, here’s what you should do if you lose a filling.

Call the Dentist

Ultimately, only a dentist can treat a lost filling. You can’t simply place it back in the tooth yourself. Therefore, call your dentist to book a visit as soon as possible.

When you make the call, let the dentist know if you’re in pain. They can set your appointment for an earlier time in response. If they can’t see you right away, though, ask them for guidance on care. That way, you can protect your exposed tooth from damage.

Find & Keep the Filling

In reality, some lost fillings can be reused. (Especially if they fell out due to a failure of the bonding agent.) Given that fact, find your filling and keep it in a safe place.

When you take your lost filling to the dentist, they’ll see if they can reuse it. Should reuse be possible, they’ll re-cement it with a proper bonding agent. If it isn’t, however, they’ll place a new filling.

Clean the Affected Area

Remember, a tooth without its filling is exposed. It’s at a higher risk of tooth decay and infections. That being the case, keep it clean before your dental visit.

For example, you might gargle with salt water after eating. Doing so would remove food debris from the tooth. Really, all you’d need is a half-teaspoon of salt and a cup of warm water. You’d then mix these materials and gargle for a few seconds. Afterward, just spit the salt water out!

Take It Easy

If possible, you don’t want to damage an exposed tooth further. (That’ll just make treatment pricier.) So, take it easy and try not to disturb the relevant pearly white.

There are several ways you could protect your chomper. On the one hand, you could avoid chewing on the side of your mouth where the filling was. Food and germs would then stay out of the space in your tooth. Similarly, you could apply a temporary dental wax to cover the exposed area.

It’s best to know how to respond if you lose a filling. To make that possible, remember the tips above – they’ll ensure your tooth is safe!

About the Practice

Richland Dental is based in Richardson, TX. Led by Drs. Siddharth and Mansi Talsania, our practice strives to provide each patient with their dream smile. We thus offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative care, as well as emergency dental services. Our team is ready to meet any of your oral needs, from dental checkups to lost fillings! For more details or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (972)-231-0799.