Dental Concerns
Lost Tooth Filling
A lost or broken filling can leave your tooth feeling sensitive, rough or uncomfortable. Prompt assessment helps protect the exposed tooth and allows us to determine whether you need a replacement filling or a stronger restoration.
Has Your Filling Fallen Out?
It can be unsettling to feel a filling loosen or discover a piece of dental material in your mouth. You may notice a hole in the tooth, a sharp edge against your tongue or sensitivity when eating and drinking.
Although losing a filling does not always require urgent treatment, it is best to have the tooth checked sooner rather than later. Fillings are used to repair damaged or decayed teeth and protect the remaining tooth structure. Once a filling has come away, the area may be more vulnerable to further wear, decay or fracture.
What Should You Do When a Filling Falls Out?
Contact a dentist to arrange an assessment, even if the tooth is not currently painful. The sooner the area is examined, the easier it may be to protect the remaining tooth structure and avoid a more involved repair.
While waiting for your appointment:
- Rinse your mouth gently with lukewarm water
- Keep the tooth clean with careful brushing
- Avoid chewing on the affected side
- Choose softer foods where possible
- Avoid hard, sticky or very sugary foods
- Keep the filling if you find it
- Do not try to glue the filling back into place
A temporary dental repair product may provide short-term coverage when you cannot see a dentist immediately, but it is not a permanent solution. Avoid using household adhesives or placing aspirin directly against the tooth or gum.
Why Do Dental Fillings Fall Out?
Fillings withstand considerable pressure from biting and chewing. Over time, the filling material or the tooth surrounding it can weaken.
Everyday Wear
Dental restorations are not expected to last forever. Years of chewing can gradually wear down the filling or affect the bond between the restoration and the tooth.
Decay Around the Filling
New decay can develop at the edge of an existing restoration. If the supporting tooth structure becomes weakened, the filling may loosen or break away.
Biting Something Hard
Hard lollies, ice, seeds and unexpected pieces of bone can place sudden pressure on a tooth and damage a filling.
Grinding or Clenching
Repeated pressure from grinding or clenching can contribute to wear, cracking and damage to existing restorations. A custom dental night guard may be considered when excessive bite forces are placing teeth and dental work at risk.
A Crack in the Tooth
Sometimes the filling is not the only part that has broken. A crack may have developed in the natural tooth underneath or around the restoration.
A Large Existing Filling
Teeth with large fillings have less natural structure remaining. As a result, another filling may not always provide enough strength when the restoration fails.
Does a Lost Filling Need to Be Replaced?
In most cases, the tooth will need to be restored again, but this does not necessarily mean placing the same type of filling.
Our dentists assess:
- The size of the damaged area
- The number of healthy teeth remaining
- Whether decay is present
- The condition of the tooth’s nerve
- The position of the tooth
- Your bite and chewing forces
- Whether the tooth has cracked
- The size and condition of previous restorations
When the damage is relatively small, new tooth-coloured dental fillings may provide an appropriate and conservative repair. Holdsworth House Dental uses tooth-coloured materials and carefully considers each tooth's structure and bite before recommending treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I leave a lost filling if the tooth does not hurt?
It is still worth arranging an assessment. A tooth can have decay or structural damage without causing immediate pain, and the exposed area may become more difficult to repair over time.
Can the old filling be put back?
In most cases, a replacement restoration is needed. Your dentist must first examine the tooth, clean the area and check for new decay or cracking.
Why is the tooth sensitive after the filling comes out?
The filling may have been protecting the more sensitive inner layers of the tooth. Sensitivity can also be related to decay, a crack or inflammation of the dental pulp.
Will I need a crown?
Not every lost filling needs a crown. The recommendation depends on the size of the defect, how strong the tooth remains and the pressure placed on the tooth when you bite.
Why does it hurt when I chew?
Pain during chewing can be caused by exposed dentine, decay, a crack, inflammation or movement within the remaining filling. An examination is needed to identify the cause.
Can a filling fall out of a root canal-treated tooth?
Yes. The restoration over a root canal-treated tooth can become loose or damaged. It should be assessed promptly because the restoration helps protect the treated tooth and the sealed canal system.
How quickly should I make an appointment?
Contact the practice as soon as practical. A more urgent assessment is recommended when the tooth is painful, badly broken, or accompanied by swelling.
Arrange an Appointment for a Lost Filling
A missing filling may require a straightforward repair, or it may be a sign that the tooth needs greater protection. Early assessment allows us to understand what has happened and recommend treatment based on the condition of the individual tooth.
