If you are like many people in the Rochester, NY area, you probably have at least one or two fillings in your teeth. What you may not realize is that fillings do not last forever. Over time, they can come loose and fall out. If this happens to you, it is important that you call our dental office right away for an appointment.
A loose filling needs to be treated immediately to avoid a painful dental emergency from occurring.
The most common issue that can be caused by a filling that has come loose is infection. When a filling falls out, this exposes the interior of the tooth to the air. The bacteria in your mouth can easily get inside the tooth and infect the pulp. Once this happens, the only thing you can do is have a root canal procedure performed.
An infected tooth that is not treated right away can cause many serious health problems. An infection in a tooth is like an infection anywhere in the body. If it is not contained and eliminated, the infection can spread to other parts of your body. Without the proper treatment, this infection which started in your mouth can cause many health problems or even prove to be fatal.
As soon as you notice that a filling has come loose, call us and make an appointment. Even if you are not experiencing any pain or discomfort in that area, you still need to get treatment right away. If a damaged tooth does not hurt, this is not actually a good sign. Instead, it can indicate that the nerve of the tooth has died.
Fortunately, if you get treatment quickly enough, you can avoid these problems. Replacing a filling is a simple procedure that we can perform in less than an hour. We will clean the affected area to make sure that there is no infection or contamination. Then, we will simply place a new filling in the hole left by the old one.
Do not wait until a filling actually falls out to give us a call. As soon as you notice that one of your fillings seems to be loose, let us know. It is better to take preemptive action than to wait for a problem to develop.
With our help, you can make sure that your teeth are as strong and healthy as possible. Loose fillings are a fact of life, and with prompt treatment, they will not cause you any problems.