Even though your filling failed and it’s important to you, it’s not an emergency. Emergency care is required if there is a dental trauma with bleeding that does not stop, or if swelling worsens. We recommend that you call your dentist to have your tooth examined as soon as possible. In most cases, a lost filling is not considered a dental emergency.
However, if you have pain and sensitivity in the area of the affected tooth, you should not ignore it. If a filling falls out unexpectedly, see your dentist for repair. For this reason, it is important to make regular visits to your dentist. He or she will help you figure out when is the best time to be proactive and replace a restoration.
If your filling fell out but you’re not in pain, it’s not an immediate emergency. You can wait up to 3 days or a week at most. Still, it’s best to see a dentist anyway, as your tooth’s cracked filling is exposed to bacteria and continues to rot. You need to get it repaired as soon as possible.
If it’s a weekday, you should be able to come in on that day as most offices have emergency hours. Dental emergencies are conditions that require immediate dental treatment to relieve severe pain, stop bleeding, or prevent infections. Since your molars do most of the work (chewing a lot), your dentist may use an amalgam filling as it is a more robust material and lasts longer. If you’re worried that your dental crown or filling will break while in storage, you can try to reinstall it while you wait for an appointment.
The first thing you should do if you lose a filling is call your dental office and let them know what happened. You may be eligible for emergency dental care if the pain is severe or your gums are bleeding and inflamed. However, in most cases, you can wait up to 3 days. If you don’t care for your teeth and gums, it’s likely that your filling won’t last long before it falls out. Make sure you bring it to your dental appointment so your dentist can try and save it back in its place.
While you wait for your dental appointment, there are certain steps you can take to protect your tooth and reduce the risk of needing a crown or a filler. In this case, your oral surgeon and dentist will provide a treatment plan to replace your tooth with a fixed or removable bridge or dental implant. Fillings can last between five and fifteen years, depending on the material used and how well you care for them.
