What to do right away
If a filling falls out, rinse your mouth with warm water, cover the hole and call your dentist. You should be seen within a few days. A tooth with no filling is open to food, bacteria and cold air, and the hole will keep growing.
Most of the time a lost filling does not hurt a lot. But do not take that as permission to wait. The tooth was weak enough to need a filling, and now more of it is exposed.
Do a quick check. Look in a mirror. Is the hole small and clean, or is the tooth dark, chipped or broken? Does it hurt to breathe in cold air? What you see and feel tells the dentist how fast to move.
Call even if the hole seems small. Offices know that a lost filling can be fixed more easily the sooner it is seen, and they may be able to fit you in quickly.
Why fillings fall out
Fillings do not last forever. Chewing, grinding and time wear them down. Hard foods and sticky foods can pull on them. The most common cause is new decay at the edge of the filling, which creates a gap. A tooth can also crack around a large filling and let it go.
Older silver fillings and large tooth-colored fillings can wear out after many years. Your dentist checks the edges of your fillings at every exam, so ask about it at your next visit if you have not had one in a while.
Teeth with large old fillings are most at risk. As the filling grows older, the tooth around it can weaken and tiny cracks can form. If you have a large filling that is more than ten years old, ask your dentist whether it should be watched or replaced. This is more helpful than waiting for it to fall out.
How to cover the hole at home
These steps give you a bit of comfort until the visit:
- Pick the area clean. Brush gently and rinse with warm salt water.
- Put a piece of sugar-free gum or a dab of drugstore temporary filling material in the hole. Sugar-free gum works in a pinch.
- Use dental wax over any sharp edge.
- Chew on the other side.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever if you need it and it is safe for you.
What to avoid
Do not use superglue or household glue to fill the tooth. Do not poke at the hole with a toothpick, a pin or your tongue over and over. Avoid very hot, very cold and very sweet foods, because the nerve can be exposed to them. Skip sticky candy and hard nuts.
Do not leave it for months. The longer a tooth is left open, the more likely the cavity gets deep enough to need a root canal or a crown.
Do not use anything that hardens in the tooth. Temporary filling material from a drugstore is made to be removed easily by your dentist. Other products, such as nail glue or craft glue, are not.
If the tooth is sensitive to cold, try a toothpaste made for sensitive teeth on the area, then do not rinse with water afterward. Do not use ice or very hot drinks. Keep your tongue away from the hole, since it can irritate the tooth.
If you can, bring the old filling with you. Your dentist can sometimes tell from it why it came out, such as decay under it or a bite that was too heavy.
Do not take this lightly if you have a child with a lost filling in a baby tooth. Baby teeth hold space for adult teeth, and an infection in a baby tooth can affect the tooth coming in below it. Call your dentist.
What your dentist will do
Your dentist will look at the tooth and take an X-ray. If the hole is small and the tooth is healthy, they clean it out and place a new filling. Today's fillings are tooth-colored, so they blend with the rest of the tooth. The visit is often about an hour, and the area is numbed.
If there is more decay, or the tooth is cracked or weak, a filling may not be enough. Your dentist may suggest an inlay, an onlay or a crown to hold the tooth together. They will explain why and show you the X-ray so you understand the choice.
If the decay reached the nerve, you could need a root canal. That is why it pays to come in early.
The numbing shot is the part many people worry about. Ask your dentist about options if you are nervous. A good dentist will go at your pace and explain each step before it happens. That is a normal request, not a hard one.
Most replacement fillings take about an hour, and you can usually eat once the numbness wears off. Your dentist will check your bite after the filling is in place, and you should tell them if it feels too high.
When it is urgent
Call the same day, or go to the ER if you cannot reach a dentist, if you have:
- Severe pain, or pain that does not stop with medicine
- Swelling in your gum, cheek or face
- Fever
- A bad taste or pus
- Trouble breathing or swallowing, which is an ER emergency
How to make fillings last
Brush with fluoride toothpaste twice a day and clean between your teeth every day. See your dentist for exams and cleanings about every six months, or as often as your dentist advises. If you grind your teeth, ask about a night guard.
Try not to bite hard things like ice, popcorn kernels or pen caps. And do not ignore a sore spot or a rough edge you can feel with your tongue. Those are early signs a filling is failing.
A small habit helps: when you floss, notice if the floss shreds or catches near a filling. That is a sign of a rough or broken edge, and it is worth mentioning at your next visit.
Finally, keep a record. Note when the filling was done, what type it was and which tooth. That information helps your dentist see how long your fillings tend to last and when to check them.
Think about what else is going on. Is your bite sore? Do your other fillings look dark or worn? A lost filling is a good time to ask your dentist for a full exam, since other fillings may be at the same stage of wear.
Lost a filling? Call KDA
We can check the tooth and replace the filling with a tooth-colored one.
KDA lists emergency care 24/7. If you are in pain, call us at 305-271-1421 and tell us what is going on. Our regular office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and we are closed Saturday and Sunday.
You will find us at 8833 SW 107th Ave, Miami, FL 33176, in the Kendall Mall. We have served South Florida since 1973. We take digital X-rays and 3D scans in the office, so we can see what is wrong the same visit. We accept most dental insurances and most Medicare supplemental plans, and financing is available.
If cost is a worry, tell us when you call. A simple filling is one of the least costly dental treatments, and it is much less than a root canal and a crown that a neglected tooth can need.
Free X-ray, exam and consultation. New Patient Special. New patients only.
The patient and any other person responsible for payment has the right to refuse to pay, cancel payment or be reimbursed for payment for any other service, examination or treatment that is performed as a result of and within 72 hours of responding to any advertisement for the free, discounted fee or reduced fee service, examination or treatment. D0191, C6182
Common questions
Is a lost filling an emergency?
Not usually, but you should be seen soon. Call the same day if you have severe pain, swelling or fever.
Can I just leave it if it does not hurt?
No. The hole keeps growing, and by the time it hurts the repair is bigger.
What can I put in the hole?
Drugstore temporary filling material, or sugar-free gum for a short time. Never use superglue.
How much does it cost to replace a filling?
The cost depends on the tooth and the materials. Call our office to talk through your options, insurance and financing.
Why does my tooth hurt after the filling fell out?
The inner layer of the tooth is exposed to air, food and temperature changes.
Can the old filling be put back?
No. A new filling is placed after the tooth is cleaned.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Your dentist will confirm what is right for you at your exam. General information checked against: colgate.com, my.clevelandclinic.org, dentalcompare.com.