What to Do When You Have a Loose Dental Filling

A dental filling is the first line of defense you have when it comes to combating tooth decay. Your teeth are involved in an endless battle against acids in your mouth that eat away at them. This leads to the formation of small holes on teeth surfaces called cavities.

When left untreated, a cavity will continue to expand until the entire tooth is destroyed. A dentist can prevent this chain of events by filling up the holes created by tooth decay. As a result, the cavity is stopped from expanding further.

There are various different materials used to make fillings, like silver amalgam, gold and composites. The material used to make the filling determines how long it lasts.

Dealing with a loose dental filling

As a dental filling begins to wear out, it might become loose or dislodged. This could be a painful experience for the patient if the filling was covering up sensitive parts of the tooth that are easily irritated by the temperatures of the foods/beverages being consumed, air or pressure from chewing.

The first thing one should do when a crown becomes loose is to store it in a safe container. Next, patients should set up an appointment with their dentist. A loose filling is not always a dental emergency, but it does require quick treatment. The portion of the tooth that was once protected with the filling will be exposed to whatever damaged it in the first place.

Here are a few simple things patients can do to protect their tooth while waiting for the appointment:

Apply clove oil to the affected tooth. This can numb sensitive areas and provide the patient with relief. Clove oil can be easily purchased at grocery or drug stores.

Temporary dental cement can be used to coat the sensitive parts of the tooth. It will act as an extra layer that protects the inner structures of the tooth. If the person does not have access to dental cement, petroleum jelly can be used to create a barrier that protects teeth. This can provide temporary relief.

If the patient was able to save a large portion of the filling, dental cement or adhesives could be used to put it back in place. This does not negate the need to see a dentist, as it is only a temporary solution.

How a dentist fixes loose fillings

Tooth decay that occurs after the filling comes off can alter the shape of a tooth. It means the dentist might have to prepare the tooth before a new filling can be added. Failing to prepare the tooth properly can lead to the new filling becoming loose as well.

Fixing a loose filling is easy

Dealing with a loose or lost filling does not cost much, and it goes a long way when it comes to protecting a tooth from further damage. Stop by our Mableton clinic if you have recently lost a filling.

Request an appointment here: https://www.providencefamilydentistry.com or call Providence Family Dentistry at (678) 496-7021 for an appointment in our Mableton office.

Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.