Fairhope, AL Dentist Lost a Filling

The first thing that you should do is remove it from your mouth so that you don’t accidentally swallow it or breathe it in.  A majority of the time when you swallow a filling, it simply passes without a problem.  On the contrary, if you accidentally breathe a filling into your lungs, it could cause an infection. Next, you should call your dentist and schedule an appointment to have your dentist replace the filling.  If the filling was recently placed, and it came out during normal chewing, then your dentist may replace it for free or at a reduced rate.  It is important to communicate what you want to your dentist — if the filing was improperly bonded to the tooth, then the dentist is at fault and should probably replace it free of charge. Before you get to your dentist, it is important to practice impeccable oral hygiene around the area where the filling used to be.  An unfilled tooth is a good trap for food, which can cause harmful bacteria to accumulate.  Be sure to brush gently and carefully inside the hole where the filling was to ensure the removal of all food debris. It is also a good idea to rinse your mouth out with warm salt water after eating. Combining one cup of warm water and one teaspoon of salt can make an effective rinse. If the tooth is structurally sound and the crown still fits properly, your dentist will clean the area and then replace the crown. If the tooth has been affected by decay, your dentist will need to prepare the tooth again by removing the decay and then making a new filling or crown to replace the old one.

 Please call us at 251-550-7770 to replace your filling!