01
I swallowed the filling — is that dangerous?
Usually it causes no problem and passes through the digestive system on its own. If you think the piece went into your airway rather than being swallowed — a sudden cough, wheeze or difficulty breathing at the moment it came out — seek medical help immediately rather than waiting.
02
How many times can a tooth be refilled?
There is no fixed number, but each replacement removes a little more tooth tissue. Once the remaining walls are thin enough to flex under chewing, another filling is the wrong answer: an onlay or a crown is recommended instead, which prevents the tooth splitting and works out cheaper over the long run.
03
It does not hurt — can I wait?
Better not to wait. Pain appears only once the decay approaches the pulp, so its absence says nothing about how far things have gone. Exposed dentine decays quickly, and within a few weeks what a simple filling would have solved can need root canal treatment instead.
04
Is a pharmacy temporary filling enough?
It can close the cavity for a day or two and reduce sensitivity, which is useful if you cannot come immediately. What it does not do is stop the decay underneath, and it is not a lasting solution — use it as a stopgap and come as soon as you are able.
05
My amalgam filling came out — what replaces it?
Tooth-coloured composite is what is usually used today, and in most cases it is placed in a single session. Where the loss of tooth substance is extensive, an onlay or a crown is recommended instead, because a large filling in a weakened tooth invites a fracture. The choice depends on how much sound tissue remains.
06
What can I do at home to get through the night until I can reach the clinic?
Sleeping with your head raised on extra pillows eases the throbbing that worsens when lying flat. Do not bite on the painful side, and avoid very hot, very cold and sugary food. Warm salt-water rinses can soothe the area, and a painkiller you know suits you may be taken at the recommended dose. These are temporary measures, so call us if swelling, fever or worsening pain appears.
07
I keep hearing about on-call dentists. How does that system actually work?
On-call rotation means different centres stay open on different nights, so the patient must first find out whose turn it is. That search costs time during a painful night. On-call visits usually focus on stopping pain and bleeding, leaving definitive treatment to a later appointment.
08
Can I eat on that side after a filling comes out?
You can, but it is better to use that side as little as possible. With the filling gone, thin walls are left exposed and they fracture easily under chewing force. A small space can become a much larger repair when a wall breaks on one mouthful. Avoid hard, sticky and stone-bearing foods.
09
Food gets trapped in the space and it hurts — what should I do?
Food packed into the space creates pressure and feeds bacteria. Rinse gently with warm salt water and pass floss carefully through the area. Do not poke at it with a toothpick or anything metal; exposed dentine is easily damaged. If packing recurs at every meal, the wait should be shortened.
10
My filling came out and I can see a dark area beneath — what is that?
That is usually decay that has advanced beneath the filling, and it explains why the filling came out. As decay progresses, the tooth surface the filling sat on softens; with no sound base to hold it, the filling is lost. Simply placing a new filling is not enough here — the decay beneath must be cleaned out first.
11
I am very sensitive to cold since the filling came out — is that normal?
Yes, and it is expected. The dentine beneath the filling has no enamel covering it and contains thousands of microscopic tubules that carry temperature change straight to the nerve. The sensitivity continues until the filling is replaced. Avoiding very hot and very cold food and using a desensitising toothpaste helps in the meantime.
12
Within how many days should I attend?
Where there is no pain, coming within a few days is enough; waiting weeks is not right, however. Decay advances much faster in exposed dentine, and the walls of the tooth carry a daily risk of fracture. Where there is pain, swelling or discomfort provoked by heat, call without waiting; those findings indicate the pulp is involved.
13
A crown was suggested instead of a new filling — why?
Each time a filling is replaced in the same tooth, a little more tissue is lost. Once only thin walls remain, a filling no longer holds the tooth together; it works to spread the walls apart during chewing. A crown wraps the tooth from outside and ties the walls together. The decision follows the thickness and number of sound walls remaining.
14
A filling in a baby tooth has come out — should it be replaced?
Yes. Unless the tooth is about to be shed, the filling must be replaced. Because the enamel of a baby tooth is thin, decay deepens much faster and soon becomes a picture requiring root canal treatment. A baby tooth lost early also narrows the space for the permanent tooth beneath and can lead to orthodontic treatment later.
15
A piece broke off the edge of my filling but it is still in place — should I wait?
It is better not to wait. A broken margin leaves a sheltered gap beneath it in which decay advances unseen. The sharp edge left can also cut the tongue and cheek. Dealt with early, usually only the fractured area needs repair; delayed, the whole filling has to be replaced.
16
My fillings keep coming out — what could be causing it?
Repeated loss is a warning and the reason should be investigated. There are three common causes: a night clenching habit, the filling sitting high in the bite, and an unrecognised crack in the tooth. Unless these are addressed, the new filling meets the same fate. Wear facets and bite testing usually reveal which applies.
17
The composite on my front tooth came off — can it be done the same day?
Yes; composite restorations at the front are usually completed in one visit and can be done the same day. Matching the shade requires the tooth to be hydrated and the ambient light to be suitable, so a repair carried out at night may be planned as temporary and the shade reviewed in daylight. That is a choice that improves the final result.
18
There is a metallic taste since my filling came out — is that normal?
In a tooth with an amalgam filling, a remaining metal fragment in contact with saliva can produce a metallic taste after part of the filling breaks. Different metals present in the mouth give a similar sensation. It is unpleasant but not dangerous and resolves once the filling is replaced. Where a bad smell and pain accompany the taste, there may be decay beneath.
