{"id":311,"date":"2022-09-20T15:45:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-20T15:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.annigandental.com\/blog\/?p=311"},"modified":"2022-09-30T15:45:30","modified_gmt":"2022-09-30T15:45:30","slug":"steps-to-manage-a-lost-dental-filling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.annigandental.com\/blog\/2022\/09\/steps-to-manage-a-lost-dental-filling\/","title":{"rendered":"Lost Dental Filling? You Need an Emergency Dentist"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-312\" src=\"https:\/\/www.annigandental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/shocked-4-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"Panicked woman with hands on head\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.annigandental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/shocked-4-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.annigandental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/shocked-4-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.annigandental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/shocked-4-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.annigandental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/shocked-4-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.annigandental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/shocked-4-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/www.annigandental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/shocked-4-scaled.jpg 1707w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>A dental filling can last for 7-20 years before needing to be replaced. Various factors affect the lifespan, but eventually, you\u2019ll need a new one. Over time, your filling may fall out, but don\u2019t panic! Here\u2019s what you should do if you have lost a dental filling.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common Reasons Fillings Fall Out<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Dental fillings don\u2019t last forever. It\u2019s not unusual for the material to lose its bond with your tooth over the years, which can be caused by several things, like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>New decay<\/li><li>Chewing too hard<\/li><li>Eating hard, chewy, or sticky foods<\/li><li>Grinding or clenching your teeth<\/li><li>Trauma to the root or tooth<\/li><li>A chemical reaction that compromises the bond<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Although you want to catch a compromised filling before it turns into a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.annigandental.com\/emergency-care.html\">dental emergency<\/a>, that\u2019s not always possible. If the unexpected happens, you\u2019re going to need to see a dentist sooner rather than later. If you wait too long to have your filling replaced, a minor issue can turn into a big problem, like an infection.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Handle a Lost Filling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your filling comes loose, the first thing you should do is calm down to assess the situation and follow the appropriate steps, which include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Call Your Dentist<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Contact your dentist to explain the situation. If you\u2019re in pain, they may recommend coming into the office right away. However, if you aren\u2019t having any discomfort, you may be scheduled for their next availability.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"2\"><li><strong>Gargle with Salt Water<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Mix 1\/2 teaspoon of salt with a cup of warm water to rinse your mouth. It will clear away any debris and kill bacteria that can damage your vulnerable tooth. Gargling with salt water can also provide temporary pain relief.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"3\"><li><strong>Save the Filling<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Place the filling in a hard container with a lid and bring it with you to the dentist. They might be able to reuse it, but you\u2019ll probably need a replacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"4\"><li><strong>Keep Your Mouth Clean<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Your exposed tooth will be susceptible to bacteria that can lead to new decay or infections. Keep your mouth clean with a good oral hygiene routine to prevent additional complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"5\"><li><strong>Protect the Tooth<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Avoid chewing with the tooth until after it has been repaired. Eat softer foods and chew on the opposite side of your mouth.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"6\"><li><strong>Manage Any Pain<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Take an OTC pain reliever to manage any discomfort. You can also apply a cold compress to numb the area.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"7\"><li><strong>Use a Temporary Solution<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Use dental wax to protect the tooth while covering any sharp or jagged edges.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A lost filling is stressful, but you don\u2019t have to navigate the situation alone. Your emergency dentist will provide the quick care you need so you can get back to more important matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About Dr. Henry Hsue<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.annigandental.com\/meet-the-doctors.html\">Dr. Hsue<\/a> earned his dental degree at the Boston University School of Dental Medicine and has taken hundreds of hours of continuing education to treat the most complex oral health concerns. If you have a dental emergency, he will address your pain and save your smile. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.annigandental.com\/contact-us.html\">Contact our office<\/a> today to request your consultation.<br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A dental filling can last for 7-20 years before needing to be replaced. Various factors affect the lifespan, but eventually, you\u2019ll need a new one. Over time, your filling may fall out, but don\u2019t panic! Here\u2019s what you should do if you have lost a dental filling.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[12],"class_list":["post-311","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-emergency-dentist"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.annigandental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/311","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.annigandental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.annigandental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.annigandental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.annigandental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=311"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.annigandental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/311\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":313,"href":"https:\/\/www.annigandental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/311\/revisions\/313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.annigandental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=311"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.annigandental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=311"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.annigandental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=311"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}