After getting a dental filling it is normal to wonder if the filling can fall out while you’re eating. If you suddenly feel some foreign particle in your mouth while chewing food, it might make you wonder if it is something in the food or your dental filling has fallen out! Although it can happen, for reasons like poor dental hygiene or frequent teeth clenching, the likelihood of a dental filling falling out is low if the dentist’s instructions are followed properly.
What causes a dental filling to fall out?
The first thing to remember here is that all dental fillings, irrespective of the material used, will eventually require replacement. A dentist near you, who performed the restorative treatment for you, would have given you an estimate of how long the filling might last. There are several factors that ensure a dental filling lasts as long as it should. When any of those factors are compromised, the chances of the filling falling out increase.
- Poor oral hygiene results in the formation of decay around the margin of the filling. This decay can weaken the filling structure and make it loose, eventually making it fall out.
- Frequent grinding or clenching action of the teeth can damage the filling. For people who clench their teeth often, the chances of a dental filling falling out, are high.
- Depending on the material used, a dental filling has an average lifespan of 7-20 years. If the filling has not been replaced after it has crossed its term, there is a high chance of it falling out suddenly.
What should be done when a dental filling falls out?
When a dental filling falls out suddenly, it might leave you in discomfort, pain, and the possible need for emergency care. A clinic with emergency dental care near you can provide immediate relief, till you finally have the filling replaced.
Most dentists in Palm Beach Gardens have extra time set aside from their daily appointments to tend to such urgent needs. You just have to call your dentist and inform them of the situation. They will see you the same day for taking care of your filling, or provide you with information on where you can seek emergency dental care in Palm Beach Gardens, if you decide to have it looked at after a few days.
When you visit the dentist, the procedure will be more or less the same as when you got the filling the first time. An X-ray of your mouth will be taken and a dentist will examine your mouth and the X-rays to determine the course of action. Depending on what the dentist detects in the examination, you might have your filling replaced or if the decay is too bad, you might require a root canal.
If the tooth can be restored, your emergency dentist near you will discuss options for the filling material to be used. If it is for the front teeth, the most suitable material is a composite resin filling that matches the tooth’s colour. For the molar and premolars, your emergency dentist in Palm Beach Gardens will likely recommend an amalgam filling that is strong enough to take all the grinding that the back teeth have to withstand.
How can you prevent a dental filling from falling out?
The most important thing to do after getting a filling is to follow good oral hygiene practices. Bacterial action can compromise the filling by forming decay around the margins of the filling.
Going for regular dental check-ups is another important factor that can detect a compromised filling and restore it before it falls out.
Lastly, it is important to bear in mind that every dental filling will eventually crack and require replacement. Visiting your dentist regularly can help determine when the right time to visit for replacement of your dental filling is, before it begins to cause problems.