Dental fillings are not necessarily a permanent fixture. In fact, it is fairly common for a dental filling to fall out, all or in part. So this shouldn’t really come as a major shock if this has happened to you.
There are various reasons behind why a dental filling may fall out. If you want to learn more about what the causes are and how to handle it, or even how to prevent it, then please keep on reading this article.
Dental fillings are special and effective treatments for tooth decay. However, as previously mentioned, there are various ways that a dental filling can fall out. Some of these ways include the following:
In the event that your dental filling falls out or becomes loose, it is important that you get it replaced as quickly as possible.
A filling must be replaced immediately or within a few days as the exposed tooth can suffer damage from food particles or infection from bacteria. The primary purpose of a dental filling is to treat tooth decays.
However, if the decay or damage penetrates deeper into the tooth and reaches the pulp, or the blood vessels and nerves, then this can cause serious damage that cannot be treated by a simple filling.
This might have to be treated by root canal treatment or even extraction in the worst-case scenario
A fallen filling can make the tooth site more sensitive and prone to further decay. As such, it is important that you act promptly if your filling falls out of place, becomes loose, or even suffers a small crack or break.
First and foremost, call your dentist so that you can schedule an appointment. In this appointment, they will examine whether or not they will re-cement the loose filling or cement a new filling. In this case, make sure that you don’t lose your loose filling!
In the meantime, gargling with salt water will help keep the exposed tooth clean and debris free. ½ teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water can help kill any bacteria that might damage the exposed tooth.
It is also important to make sure you are maintaining proper dental hygiene and that you are exercising caution as you brush over the exposed tooth. In addition to this, make sure you do not chew on the area of the exposed tooth to avoid any further damage.
Of course, prevention over cure is an important practice to keep in mind. There are multiple methods you can practice to ensure that your fillings do not fall out. Some of these include:
Though dental fillings do not last forever, cases of them falling out of place must be treated immediately. This is because the exposed tooth could become susceptible to infection that can deeply penetrate into the nerves and blood vessels.
These situations can then only be treated by extreme treatments such as a root canal treatment or an extraction. Therefore, make sure that you act promptly by calling your dentist and scheduling an appointment.
Through this appointment, your dentist will be able to treat the problem and recommend to you ways to prevent this from happening in the future.
However, if your dental filling hasn’t fallen out of place, keep our prevention tips in mind! This will surely save you a lot of effort and money in the long run.
If you are searching for a dental clinic in the Cranbourne area for dental fillings or any other dental procedure, then look no further than Shine Dental Group.
Shine Dental Group offers a full array of dental services to help you and your family maintain healthy teeth and are a trusted and reliable dentist in Cranbourne.
To learn more about our services or make an appointment, please contact us today on (03) 5995 9789.
We strive for 100% customer satisfaction. If we fell short, please tell us more so we can address your concerns.