A filling fell out: what to do until your appointment
A lost filling is rarely an emergency, but don't leave it: without its filling, the tooth can break further. Until we see you, keep it clean and chew on the other side. If the tooth hurts, take an over-the-counter painkiller as the label directs and call us on 031 563 2473.
How urgent a lost filling is
If you're not sure which row fits, call us and describe it.
| What you notice | What to do |
|---|---|
| No pain and no sharp edge | Book an appointment in the next few days. |
| Sensitivity to cold, heat or sweet things | Book soon, and avoid very hot, cold or sugary food on that side. |
| Pain, or a sharp edge cutting your tongue | Call us during practice hours. |
| A swollen face or gum | Call us the same day. If we are closed, get urgent medical help. |
| Swelling spreading towards your eye or neck, a fever, or trouble breathing or swallowing | Go to a hospital emergency unit now. |
Until your appointment
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Step 1: Rinse
Rinse gently with warm water after you eat, to clear food out of the hole.
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Step 2: Brush gently
Keep brushing the tooth gently, edges of the hole included, so plaque does not build up in the gap.
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Step 3: Chew on the other side
Avoid hard or sticky food on that side until the tooth is repaired.
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Step 4: Book your repair
Send us a WhatsApp or call 031 563 2473. Say that a filling has come out, and whether the tooth hurts.
Temporary filling kits from the pharmacy
Pharmacies sell temporary filling material that you press into the hole yourself. It can cover a sharp edge or ease sensitivity for a few days, which makes it a handy stop-gap. It doesn't treat any decay under the old filling, and it can come out too. If you use one, follow the instructions on the pack, and keep your appointment even if the tooth feels fine.
Why fillings come out
The usual reasons are:
- new decay around or under the filling;
- a crack in the tooth;
- wear over the years, since fillings typically last 10 to 20 years, depending on the material;
- biting on something very hard.
The cause matters, because a crack or new decay changes how the tooth is repaired. A tooth that doesn't hurt can still have decay under the old filling, because a cavity doesn't always cause symptoms.
If the tooth looks black inside
A dark area where the filling was can be decay, or staining left by the old filling material. You can't tell which by looking in a mirror. An examination, sometimes with an X-ray, shows which it is and how deep it goes, so book an appointment rather than waiting to see whether it changes.
How we repair the tooth
We check the tooth and take an X-ray if it's needed. What happens next depends on what we find:
- The tooth is sound. Any decay is removed and a new tooth-coloured filling is placed. Composite is built up in the tooth and set hard with a curing light while you're in the chair, with no mould or laboratory step.
- A larger part of the tooth has broken. We may be able to rebuild it in composite.
- The decay has gone deep, or too little tooth is left. We talk you through what the tooth needs and your options.
If part of the tooth broke off with the filling, read chipped or broken tooth. Our page on tooth-coloured fillings explains the appointment step by step, and how to help a filling last.
For a painful or swollen tooth, see toothache and broken teeth, and if a tooth keeps you awake, read toothache at night.
Investing in your teeth
We take medical aid, card and cash. For how dental fees work in general, read what dental visits cost.
Your questions about a lost filling
Usually not, unless you have swelling or bad pain. Book soon, because the tooth can break further without its filling. If your face or gum swells, call us the same day.
Keep the tooth clean, chew on the other side and book an appointment in the next few days. No pain doesn't mean the tooth is healthy: decay under an old filling may not hurt yet.
Yes, as a stop-gap for a few days: it can cover a sharp edge or ease sensitivity. It doesn't treat decay under the old filling and can come out, so book an appointment anyway.
The usual causes are new decay around or under it, a crack in the tooth, wear over the years, or biting on something hard. We look for the cause before we repair the tooth.
It can be decay, or staining from the old filling material. An examination, sometimes with an X-ray, tells which. Call 031 563 2473 or send us a WhatsApp to book.
Opening hours at Durban Dental Care
Durban Dental Care, 490 Chris Hani Road, Park Hill, Durban North
- Monday 9am to 4pm
- Tuesday 9am to 4pm
- Wednesday 9am to 4pm
- Thursday 9am to 4pm
- Friday 9am to 4pm
- Saturday 9am to 12pm
- Sunday Closed
- Public holidays Closed
Related treatments
Fillings
A cavity, a cracked old filling or a small chip repaired in composite matched to the shade of your tooth.
Toothache and emergencies
If a tooth hurts or breaks, call us and we'll see you as soon as we can during practice hours.
Check-ups and X-rays
Catch decay and gum problems early. We examine your teeth, gums and mouth, and take X-rays only where they're needed.
Book a repair
Choose a day that suits you, and if the tooth hurts, say so in your message.
More guides from the practice
Teeth grinding at night: signs, causes and night guards
How to tell if you grind your teeth at night, what causes it, what it does to teeth and how a night guard helps.
- Prevention
Silver tooth caps: what they are, how they come off and what replaces them
What a silver tooth is, how it differs from a silver filling, and what happens when it comes off.
- Gold teeth
Are fissure sealants worth it for children and adults?
What the evidence says about fissure sealants, their limits, and who they are most worth it for.
- Prevention