Several years ago I decided to take a trip to the dentist after skipping multiple appointments for over 15 years. I truly had a dental anxiety and had a hard time getting over my fears. Thankfully, my dental visit went smoothly with only four cavities identified. What I did find from this dental visit was that there was a great deal of new information and technology that I had been missing out on. Laser-based technology and digital imaging are just a few examples. With this blog, I want you to understand that you can get over your fears and learn about this new technology like I did, so enjoy the information.
Popcorn is a delicious snack, but the hard kernels lurking inside the fluffy bits of popped corn are a danger to your teeth. Crunching down on a kernel unexpectedly is enough to crack a filling. Broken fillings are fairly common, especially when they are old or brand new. However, if you crunch down on something hard like a kernel or ice, you can chip a solid filling or even a tooth. Your filling may even crack or split bad enough that part of it falls out. Either way, you'll want to see your dentist as soon as you can. Here are some suggestions for dealing with your broken filling:
See Your Dentist Even If It Doesn't Hurt
You may suspect you have a cracked filling if you heard it break when you crunched down on something hard. The filling may wiggle a little too, which indicates it is broken and loose. You may not be too concerned if your tooth doesn't hurt, but you should still see your dentist right away. If there's a crack in the filling, bacteria and food will work their way inside your tooth and irritate the nerve. You could also develop an infection. A toothache will probably arise sooner or later, so you can spare yourself the pain by having the filling replaced before that happens.
Call your Dentist Right Away If The Filling Is Loose
If your broken filling is very loose and on the verge of falling out, you should call your dentist right away for advice. You may be told to come to the office right away, and if that's not possible, you might be told to pull the filling out if it is not secure in your mouth. At the very least, you'll want to avoid chewing on that side of your mouth since chewing could dislodge the loose filling and cause you to swallow it. Swallowing a filling isn't necessarily dangerous since it should pass through your body, but it's something you'll probably want to avoid.
Plus, sleeping with a very loose filling might be dangerous if it is a choking hazard. If the filling is barely hanging on, you might be able to pull it loose by gently tugging on it. With the filling gone, your tooth will be exposed to temperature extremes and other irritants so you'll want to have the filling replaced as soon as possible to avoid a toothache and infection.
Have A New Filling Put In
Fixing a broken filling is usually a matter of replacing it with a new filling. However, if your tooth has had further decay or if part of your tooth was chipped off too, you might need a crown instead of a filling. Also, if you delay getting your filling replaced, you might have to deal with treatment of an infection. Therefore, be sure to see your dentist as soon as you can after you break or crack a filling so repairs can be done and you can ward off complications.
Share29 September 2017
