5 things you should do when a tooth filling comes out
Dental fillings – The foremost treatment modality to repair and restore the missing structure of a decayed tooth. The tooth fillings cannot last for a lifetime whereas their lifespan depends on the wear and tear they encounter every day.
When the fillings get old, they become loose and eventually fall out. On the other hand, tooth fillings come out unexpectedly due to accidents, extensive force, or others. Whatever the case is, such detached fillings have to be replaced as soon as possible.
In this post, our dentists in Colombo have explained the important things you should do after the fillings fall out. These are the precautionary activities to safeguard the filled tooth until your dentist repairs it.
1) Remove the filling
The first thing you should do when you notice the dislodged fillings in your mouth is, remove those fillings. It is because you may accidentally chew or swallow the filling materials.
Likewise, keep the extracted fillings safe because those removed fillings can be reused at times. All you want to do is, simply wash the filling and keep it in a silicone bag, mylar pouches, or any air-tight container.
2) Brush gently to keep the affected area clean
The tooth’s internal area sealed with the fillings is now exposed. So you have to remove the bacteria and food debris lodged in those spaces. Remember that you should brush your tooth gently else the underlying soft tissues which are now exhibited will be injured and eventually lead to harmful consequences.
Rinsing your mouth with saltwater solution twice a day is also helpful in keeping the problematic tooth clean.
3) Fill the void with dental wax
You can get different types of dental cement in pharmacies to temporarily fill the hole created due to the detached fillings. Placing a small ball of wax will prevent any microbes or foreign substances enter the space.
4) Take medication when you sense pain
As the nerves and sensitive tissues are exposed, pain is inevitable at times. So you should fill the void immediately in a dental clinic.
If you cannot visit the dentist immediately, take over-the-counter medications or pain killers to numb the throbbing nerves and temporarily get rid of the pain. If you notice the toothache becomes persistent or fluid discharge around the infected tooth, visit your dentist immediately.
5) Don’t chew on the side of the affected tooth
The dislodged filling has made the tooth fragile so that it cannot withstand the biting or chewing force. If you try to chew your cuisine with that tooth, it may break or extensively damage the tooth.
So it is essential to avoid chewing with the problematic tooth until it is repaired or restored.
Bottom line
Even though dental restorations such as cavity fillings have a limited life span, you can extend their longevity with proper oral hygiene activities.
In case of loose or dislodged fillings, the restoration options vary depending on various aspects such as depth of void. If you do not restore the space created by fillings for a while, the chances of bacterial invasion are higher and it will push you to get extensive dental repair treatments like RCT or even tooth extraction.
