Tooth decay happens. Luckily, our Saratoga dental office can use tooth-colored filling materials to repair cavities and restore your smile. However, fillings may eventually fall out if certain conditions occur.
What would cause a filling to come loose?
If you get a tooth filled, there could be several potential causes ranging from a new cavity developing under or around the filling to teeth grinding at night. Whatever it ends up being, the result is the same, and you need to see one of our dentures specialists so they can fix it.
Some other reasons why you may not be able to get a dental filling could include:
- Traumatic injuries, accidents, and facial trauma
- Consuming hard, sticky, or crispy foods
- Hard chewing while eating
- A chemical reaction that changes the bonding between the filling and the tooth.
It’s usually pretty easy to tell when a filling has started to fall out or loosen up. However, sometimes it’s hard to know for sure.
If you’ve got a tooth filling that has fallen out, there are several things you need to know.
Feel Sudden Pain
If you don’t put a filling into the hole where your tooth used to be, the tissues under the missing tooth are exposed to outside factors, including air, pressure, cold, and heat. This can cause sudden tooth pain at any time.
Don’t worry; you don’t need to freak out when a tooth filling comes loose. All you need to do is contact our Saratoga dental practice and book an appointment so we can repair the problem and get you back to enjoying your smile again. You can take over-the-counter pain medications if the discomfort is too painful for you to ignore.
You may notice a crack or hole in your tooth.
If you look into your mouth when you open your mouth and see a visible gap between two teeth, then you’ve probably lost a filling. You may also notice a slight indentation at the back of your tongue where the filling used to be.
You might consider getting some saltwater gargles if you don’t see a dentist yet. You could mix a half teaspoon of salt into eight ounces of warm water and spit it out. Then, use dental wax to cover up any exposed holes or cracks in your teeth. It may help protect them until you can go to a dentist.
You may experience sensitivity to hot and cold foods or drinks.
Your teeth are vulnerable to cold and heat without fillings. So you may experience increased sensitivity after drinking coffee or eating ice cream.
You should avoid eating or drinking anything that might cause pain until your next visit to our office. Also, don’t bite down on your affected tooth’s sides. We’ll do everything we can to get you in here as quickly as possible, so you aren’t uncomfortable for too long.
Find That Food Gets Trapped Where the Filling Should Be
Sometimes food can get stuck in your teeth. It’s not any different if a tooth filling is missing. If something gets caught in the same place your filling used to be, it may mean it’s gone. Give us a call, and we’ll take care of replacing your missing filling right away.
Have Your Tooth Restored With a New Filling
Don’t wait; call us today for an examination and cleaning at Saratoga Dentistry. We’ll assess your teeth, clean the area, then place a tooth-colored restoration so you can enjoy a beautiful smile. Contact us now to set up an appointment.