What to Do If Your Old Filling Fails

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Dental fillings play an important role in restoring the appearance and functionality of your teeth. But, even with the best dental care, they won’t last a lifetime. So, if you’ve had your fillings for quite some years now, you can expect them to fail at some point. 

When that happens, it is important to know what to do to preserve the integrity of your teeth. 

Call Your Dentist

The first thing you need to do if you notice that an old filling has failed is to call your dentist and let them know what happened. If you practice good oral hygiene, then you may not feel any real discomfort. However, it’s still essential that you contact your dentist and book an appointment so that they can inspect your mouth and restore the damaged tooth. 

Try Not to Touch the Area

You may be tempted to touch the hole in your tooth with your tongue or finger, but you should try very hard to abstain yourself from doing so. This area is now more sensible and prone to bacteria, so you should try not to poke around it with your fingers or tongue. 

Keep Any Food Debris Away

If you can’t schedule a same-day appointment, try to keep the area clean until your dentist can see you. Eat on the other side of your mouth as much as possible to avoid any food debris that could get stuck in there and cause even more trouble. 

Pay More Attention to Your Oral Hygiene

While it’s advisable not to brush the affected tooth directly, especially if the area is sensitive and touching it causes pain, you should still be very careful about your overall oral hygiene. Brush your teeth carefully and cleanse with a mild mouthwash to keep any harmful bacteria away from the tooth. 

Watch Your Symptoms

Even if you didn’t feel any pain when the filling failed, it’s not a certainty that it will be this way until your dentist can see you. Pay attention to any symptoms you may develop over the course of the next few days, such as pain, swelling, or a mild fever as they can indicate an infection. If that’s the case, then you should contact your dentist for an emergency dental appointment. 

At Whitestone Family Dentistry, for example, you don’t even have to call us before. If you are in pain, you can simply walk in and we will take care of you. 

Did an Old Filling Fail? Call Whitestone Family Dentistry

If an old filling fails and you are experiencing pain or just want to make sure everything is in order, you can count on Whitestone Family Dentistry for professional dental care. We offer a wide variety of services, covering family dentistry, tooth extractions, implants, restorative dentistry, and more. 

Your smile is always our priority, so just call us now to book your appointment with Dr. David Hsu. 

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