What Should I Do If My Filling Falls Out?

Acid from bacteria can strip minerals from a tooth’s enamel, its outer protective layer, and cause temporary weakening. If the tooth is not fortified with additional minerals, it will result in permanent damage to the tooth in the form of a cavity. This is a little hole in your tooth’s structure. An untreated cavity can get worse and cause infection that results in pain and tooth loss. Your dental team will check for cavities, and other dental issues, at your routine checkups and will recommend any necessary treatment. This can involve removing the decay, cleaning the area, and repairing it with a filling.

What Is a Filling?

A filling is a special dental material a dentist uses to literally fill up a cavity to restore a tooth’s strength and full function and to protect the inner tooth from damage. Fillings are typically tooth-colored so you can’t see them. While uncommon, a filling can fall out.

Treating a Lost Dental Filling

If your dental filling has fallen out, then you want to get the area treated as soon as possible. That filling was a barrier that protected the inner part of your tooth from being exposed to bacteria. Without it there, your tooth is more susceptible to decay and infection.

The first thing you should do is call your dentist so that they can bring you in to get a new filling. In the meantime, you can take an over-the-counter pain medication to reduce any discomfort. Try not to chew food in the affected area since you want to keep the tooth as clean as possible. Drink plenty of water and regularly rinse your mouth with a mixture of warm water and table salt.

Restorative Dentistry in Denver, CO

If you have any questions about your smile, please contact Vero Dental today! We provide a variety of restorative dental treatments, including dental fillings, in Denver, CO.

Categorized in: Restorative Dentistry