I Think My Filling Is Loose. Is This an Emergency?

Maybe you just bit into something hard or sticky or noticed your loose filling out of nowhere. Either way, that fiddly feeling inside your tooth can be disconcerting.

Here’s the good news: a loose filling usually isn’t a dental emergency. 

As long as there’s no bleeding or swelling, you don’t need to head straight to our office. If you do have those symptoms along with your loose filling, use our emergency dentistry service. Nisha Modi, DMD, can see you immediately to determine what’s going on and give your mouth the necessary care. 

If you have a loose filling without other symptoms, you can schedule an appointment with our team at Miracle Smile Dental in Aubrey, Texas. We can get you into our typical office hours as quickly as possible. However, to protect your tooth in the interim, you should take specific steps.

Managing a loose filling

The time between noticing the loose filling and coming to our office is critical. You need to take steps to minimize the damage to your tooth and make it as easy as possible to repair the filling. 

For starters, if any pieces of the filling fall out, try to locate them and bring them to your appointment with us.

The loose filling means that food and decay-causing bacteria can get into the now-exposed portion of your tooth. Good oral hygiene is essential during this period. So, brush and floss as you wait for your appointment. Be very gentle with the area surrounding your loose filling.

Gargle with salt water to help keep your mouth as clean as possible. Add a half-teaspoon of salt to a cup of warm water and gently swish it around your mouth. 

When you come to our office, Dr. Modi evaluates your tooth. She may be able to repair the filling or place a new filling to protect the tooth. 

Avoiding a loose filling

Once your loose filling gets resolved, you probably don’t want to face this issue again. You can do a few things to lower your risk. First, don’t chew ice or hard candy. Secondly, wear a mouthguard if you grind your teeth at night.

Visiting Dr. Modi and our team twice yearly goes a long way. At your routine dental exam and teeth cleaning, Dr. Modi checks any fillings you have to look for problems. As a specialist in preventive dentistry, she’s adept at catching issues early.

We’re here to help you deal with loose fillings and prevent future ones. To schedule a visit to our office, call our team at 469-765-3567 or book an appointment using our convenient online scheduling tool.