A Filling Has Fallen Out: What to Do and What Not to Do
The decisions made on the first day directly affect how large the treatment becomes.
What to do in the first hours
- Rinse gently with warm salty water to clear food from the cavity
- Keep brushing the area gently rather than avoiding it
- Chew on the other side and avoid hard or sticky foods
- A pharmacy temporary filling can cover a sharp edge
- Avoid extremes of hot and cold, as exposed dentine reacts
- Do not spread the appointment over days; the cavity keeps growing
- Pain, swelling or sharp pain on biting needs same-day assessment
What must never be done
- Trying to stick the old filling back with any adhesive
- Using superglue, which is toxic to oral tissues
- Crushing aspirin onto the tooth, which chemically burns the gum
- Packing the cavity with cotton, gum or wax, which traps bacteria
- Poking the cavity with a toothpick or hard object
- Taking antibiotics on your own to suppress the pain
Why delay makes the treatment larger
A filling does more than close a hole: it ties the remaining walls together and spreads chewing load. Without it, thinned walls carry the force alone, so fracture often comes before pain. Exposed dentine is far softer than enamel, so decay advances faster — a cavity treatable in a week can reach the pulp within months. If the tooth has had root canal treatment the stakes are higher still, as the canal system is left open to oral bacteria.
Getting Here, Booking and Emergencies from Gulveren
Route, booking and emergency arrangements for patients from Gulveren.
Getting here from Gulveren
Gülveren lies in the Kepez district of Antalya; Kepez is one of the central districts, about 6 kilometres from the clinic. We also see patients from neighbouring areas that share the route from Gulveren, such as Kazım Karabekir, Mehmet Akif Ersoy, Şelale, Yavuz Selim. You can ask for the location on WhatsApp when travelling from Gulveren.
Appointments for Gulveren
At this distance, splitting treatment into visits is no problem for patients from Gülveren, and attending reviews is easy too. As with patients from Kepez generally, appointments for families from Gulveren can be scheduled consecutively.
Emergencies from Gulveren
Setting out from Gülveren at night is quick; come without delay in an emergency, and calling as you leave means preparation is done in advance. For patients coming from Dental Clinic in Gulveren, the clinic is open 24/7 and in an emergency the order is set by severity rather than arrival time. For spreading facial swelling, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or toothache with fever, go to the nearest emergency department.
Noises in the Jaw Joint: Clicking and Crepitus
The jaw joint contains a disc that acts as a cushion between the bones. A noise on opening usually comes from that disc slipping out of place and returning.
Two different noises, two different meanings
The distinction changes the approach:
- A click: a single sharp sound, indicating disc displacement
- Crepitus: a continuous grating sound, indicating joint surface change
- A painless click: monitoring is usually enough
- A painful noise or locking: assessment is needed
Does every noise need treatment?
No. Painless joint noise is common in the population and continues for years without trouble in most people. The decision to treat is made by the accompanying findings rather than the noise: pain, reduced opening, fatigue on chewing and locking. Noise alone is not a disease.
Simple measures that help
Behavioural changes that reduce load on the joint help markedly in most cases: avoiding hard food and food needing prolonged chewing, giving up chewing gum, supporting the jaw with a hand while yawning, not biting nails or pens, and reminding yourself during the day to keep the teeth apart. These are tried before medication or appliances.
