What should I do if my filling falls out?

If your filling falls out it generally is time to call to schedule a dental visit. If your tooth is not hurting, it usually is not important to call your dentist after hours, but you would be wise to schedule an appointment within a week or two. Absence of pain is not a reason to delay seeing a dentist, since patients who report that a filling has fallen out can often have decay present or may have a piece of the tooth broken as well.

If the tooth is sharp and bothering your tongue, you can go to a pharmacy and purchase a kit for placing a dental temporary. These kits have a dental temporary cement that can be placed in the open portion of the tooth and can make the tooth feel less sharp.

Once you visit your dentist, he will most likely need to take a dental radiograph or two so that he can diagnose the extent of the problem. If there is no decay present your tooth may just require a new filling. If decay is present, the dentist will need to clean it out prior to refilling the tooth. Bear in mind that in the event that the decay  has compromised the pulp, your tooth may require a root canal procedure and teeth with extensive missing tooth structure may be candidates for a crown instead of a filling.