Dental fillings are designed to repair tooth damage caused by cavities and decay. These dental treatments are customizable and versatile and can meet the needs of patients who want to address, correct, and prevent tooth decay while also promoting long-term dental health. When you visit a dentist in Raleigh, NC, you can learn more about dental fillings and determine whether you’re a good candidate.
What Should You Do If Your Dental Filling Falls Out?
When administered properly, a dental filling should last five to 15 years. It’s not common for a dental filling to fall out of a tooth, but it’s also not impossible. If your dental filling falls out, taking immediate action is important.
Contact a Dentist in Raleigh, NC
The first step to take when your filling falls out is to contact a skilled, reputable, and experienced dentist who can address the issue and prevent discomfort and further damage to the tooth.
When you arrive at your appointment, the dentist will evaluate your tooth to determine how to restore the filling material. The filling replacement process is nearly identical to the initial filling appointment. At this time, the dentist will review your filling options, treat any existing decay, and then replace the missing filling with new filling materials.
Clean the Tooth
After you make your appointment for filling repair with a Raleigh area dentist, you’ll need to cleanse and protect the tooth. Gargling with salt water is ideal, as the saline solution will naturally remove any food and bacteria from the tooth.
Protect the Tooth
After you clean the area, you need to protect it until you can get to the dentist and have the filling replaced. You can purchase dental wax and apply it to the exposed tooth to protect it until your appointment. Doing so will prevent any bacteria and food debris from accumulating in the area.
Avoid Chewing on the Tooth
Before your appointment, you must be very careful about what foods you eat and avoid chewing on the exposed tooth. Doing so will help prevent discomfort and further damage to the area, keep the dental wax in place, and help you maintain optimal comfort until you can have it professionally repaired.
Save Your Dental Fillings
If a filling comes loose and falls out of your tooth, don’t just throw it away. Instead, put it somewhere safe so you can bring it to your appointment. Sometimes, the dentist can reapply the same filling and secure it back onto the tooth. In other situations, a new filling replacement may be necessary.
However, you won’t know what the dentist can do until your appointment. Holding on to the old filling will allow the dentist to evaluate it and determine the next best steps.
If you’ve lost a filling, damaged one, or need a filling, we can help. At the office of Rebecca E. Reeves, DMD, FICOI, our dental professionals work together to help ensure each patient achieves and maintains optimal oral health. Contact us today at the office of Rebecca E. Reeves, DMD, FICOI, in Raleigh, NC, to learn more about our services and to schedule your next dental appointment.