When you get a filling for one of your teeth, you might think the treatment will last forever. After all, it’s not like the tooth’s interior can get infected now, right? However, the truth is that you could eventually suffer a lost dental filling. Should that happen, you’ll need to act quickly and carefully to handle the matter. Fortunately for you, your Denton dentist is here to help you out. Read on to learn four steps to take if you lose a dental filling.
Contact Your Emergency Dentist
As you’d expect, you can’t fully fix a lost filling yourself. (In fact, trying to do so is likely to worsen things.) Therefore, the first thing to do in this scenario is to call your emergency dentist. In particular, you’ll want to ask them for the soonest possible appointment. Otherwise, have them instruct you on how to protect your exposed tooth from damage.
The more quickly you see your dentist for treatment, the better. A lost filling can result in more decay and damage if left alone. Plus, an earlier visit makes reattaching or replacing the filling more likely to succeed.
Clean the Affected Area
Because you’ve lost your filling, its tooth is now vulnerable to outside forces. As such, please keep it clean until you can see your dentist.
One way to clean the tooth is by gargling with salt water. Not only would this rinse dislodge food debris, but it would also remove harmful oral bacteria. As a side benefit, the process could even soothe lingering soreness.
If necessary, you can also brush the tooth in question. However, make sure to do so gently.
Don’t Aggravate the Issue
Without its filling, your tooth will be easier to damage than usual. Therefore, be careful not to aggravate your problem further.
For instance, try not to chew near the area of the exposed tooth. If you do, you’ll likely experience more pain and risk the pearly white’s structure.
To deal with discomfort from your tooth, feel free to take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
Protect the Exposed Tooth
Even if you refrain from eating, your newly-exposed tooth is at high risk of infection and decay. It’d be a good idea, then, to protect it however you can.
As an example, consider using a temporary filling material. Many pharmacies carry some made from dental wax or zinc oxide. Though it’d be a short-term solution, this temporary filling could tide you until you get a proper replacement.
As you can see, a lost dental filling is a real outcome you could face someday. By using the steps above, though, you’d ensure your smile gets the fast fix it needs!
About the Author
Dr. Ted Dunson II is a dentist based in Denton, TX, having earned his DDS from the Baylor College of Dentistry. His specialties are preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, not to mention emergency care. He is also a certified provider of traditional braces and Invisalign clear aligners. As such, you can trust him for almost any dental issue — including your lost fillings! Dr. Dunson currently practices at Southridge Dental and is reachable on his website or by phone at (940)-566-4942.