Is It An Emergency If Your Dental Filling Comes Out?

 Losing a filling can be an alarming experience.  There’s nothing worse than biting down into your dinner only to hear a crack and realize that a piece of dental work has come loose.

The question that many patients ask in this situation is whether or not this counts as an “emergency”.

And it’s understandable - having a tooth knocked out in an accident is an obvious trip to an emergency dentist in NE Calgary. 

But on the spectrum of “dental emergencies”, losing a filling is much more ambiguous.

Here’s our take on whether or not this is an emergency (and what you should do in this situation if it happens to you).

What Constitutes A Dental Emergency?

The question of whether or not a lost filling constitutes an emergency is….maybe.

Generally speaking, an emergency is any situation which is either extremely painful or will cause longterm damage if not treated right away.

A tooth that’s been knocked out meets both of these criteria - it’s (obviously) very painful to lose a tooth, and a speedy trip to an emergency dentist near you is the only way to potentially save it.

The same goes for an abscess or infection - these can spread incredibly rapidly (and could even be life threatening) so it’s important that you deal with them right away.

A missing filling is a grey area.  If the crack causes enough tissue to be exposed, it could become painful enough to warrant emergency dental work.

It’s also important to note that it could easily become a dental emergency.  Missing fillings are prime real estate for infections to take root if you leave the problem for long enough and don’t take steps to fix it.

However, in most cases, losing a filling is not a true emergency or anything to panic about.

Here’s what you should do if it happens to you.

What Should I Do If I Lose My Filling?

The first thing to do if you lose your filling is to contact a dentist near you and make an appointment.  Again, just because it’s not an emergency doesn’t mean it can’t spiral out of control, and it doesn’t mean that you should just leave it for months at a time.

Once you’ve made an appointment, there are a few easy steps you can take in the meantime to both manage discomfort and prevent the situation from getting worse.

First, make sure you diligently clean the affected area to prevent an infection from setting in.  Gently brush the area as you normally would, and wash out your mouth with warm water and a little salt to disinfect it.

In terms of damage control, you should also avoid doing any more harm to the area until it can be checked out at a dental clinic in NE Calgary.  Try to stick to softer foods for a few days, and avoid chewing on the affected side. 

You can also apply a “temporary filler” (available over the counter at most pharmacies).  This will keep any food from getting in and go a long way to preventing infections from setting in and more damage from occurring.

Finally, if you are experiencing some pain and discomfort, you can manage it with over the counter pain medications (consult your physician).  Anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen tend to work particularly well in this type of situation.

You can also make use of some “old school remedies”.  Clove and peppermint oil have been used for centuries to help treat tooth pain, and you’d be surprised at how effective they still are - simply dab a little on the affected area.