Lost or Broken Filling

The mouth is a fairly hostile environment with a variety of different conditions like severe chewing pressures, bacterial attacks from the plaque and acute hot and cold variations leaving their mark on your teeth. When fillings are made, they are subject to that same environment and as a result will need replacing from time to time.

If a filling fails, it needs to be replaced as soon as possible as otherwise tooth decay will make the problem only more difficult to fix. However, if the filling comes out over a weekend or even a holiday, as a rule of thumb remember that although we really do not want to leave it any longer than necessary, if it is not painful, do not panic and make an appointment as soon as it is practically possible.

When a filling has come out, the tooth may become sensitive to temperature changes because the deeper structures of the tooth are exposed and the nerve endings in the dentine will register these changes. The rough edges of the tooth can also be a problem as they can lacerate the tongue or cheek and your mouth can become very sore as a result.

If you cannot get to the surgery for whatever reason and are struggling with the symptoms described above, an emergency temporary filling material can be found in most leading chemists and may alleviate the soreness until we can fix the problem properly.