Help. I Have a Loose Dental Filling

Dental fillings have been a popular method of dental restoration for ages now. They offer a great deal of help to someone who has a damaged tooth from decay or a chip. However, just like with any dental procedure, fillings too can have their own problems.

While dental fillings are secure for the most part, there are times that they can become loose and it can be quite scary for someone who isn’t sure what is happening.

In this article, we will go over a few things that someone should do when their dental filling is loose. 

Loose dental fillings

For the most part, dental fillings remain safe and secure within a person’s tooth but there are times when they can become loose. People that regularly chew sticky foods such as thick caramel candies or gums are more likely to experience a loose filling. Over time, these loosen up the filling material, thus causing it to become less secure over time.

How to tell if it’s loose

When a person is chewing normal foods, the particles may pack down or sink into the tooth that has a loose filling. Biting down on certain foods may feel as though, the food is getting stuck or being packed into the tooth. This indicates that the dental filling has loosened itself up.

What to do when a filling is loose

First and foremost, a person should contact their dentist in order to schedule an appointment for the filling to be examined closely. The dentist will closely look at all areas of the tooth and the dental filling to see where the source of the problem is.

While waiting for the dentist appointment, a person should avoid chewing on the side of the mouth that has the loose dental filling. It’s best to also rinse the mouth thoroughly with salt water a few times a day to ensure that the filling remains free of food particles, as these could later cause further damage. 

What a dentist can do

The dentist will examine the loose filling and determine whether or not it can be repaired or replaced. Often times, a dental crown can be placed over it and this will seal the entire tooth off, protecting it from further damage.

In other instances, the dental filling may be so loose that the roots of the tooth have been damaged. This may require that a root canal is done or even extraction of the tooth.

Because a dental filling can cause such problems, it’s important to immediately see the dentist when the filling becomes loose. The earlier that it is addressed, the easier the treatment will be.

Being aware of what to do when a filling is loose can help someone if and when they experience it. Ultimately, a visit to the dentist is best but following the things in this article can help as well.

If you have questions that weren’t answered in this article then reach out to our office so that we can help you. Our trained professionals would be happy to assist in any way that we can, give us a call or stop by today!

Request an appointment here: https://trophysmilestudio.com or call Trophy Smile Studio at (817) 210-4049 for an appointment in our Trophy Club office.

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