How can I tell if I have lost a filling?

The answer to this question is really quite simple. Most people who have lost a filling can feel either a roughness or new sharpness on their teeth since the preparation  where the filling was placed is now exposed. The tongue is a very sensitive explorer and a little hole an feel cavernous to the tongue. Unless the filling is lost from a surface that the tongue doesn't routinely explore, most people can feel when a filling is lost.

Not all that is sharp signifies a lost filling. Sometimes broken teeth feel sharp as well since there is a sharp edge where the tooth broke off. Teeth that are broken or missing a filling do not necessarily hurt and if you suspect you are missing part of a filling or a tooth a visit to your dentist is in order. By the time it starts hurting it may be evidence of a bigger problem that is not as easy to fix.

tooth with broken buccal cusp
While discovering a missing filling usually does warrant an after hours visit, arranging an appointment with a dentists should not be delayed. If a tooth is missing a filling for a lengthy period of time ( say several months) it can cause decay to develop or if already present, to worsen further.  Some fillings end up falling out because their is extensive decay present beneath them. This can cause them to break due to a lack of sound supportive tooth structure.

Occasionally when I meet a new patient who has a missing filling, they admit that they lost their filling 6 months or more earlier, but they put off their visit because they either were lacking in money or were waiting for a dental insurance policy to become active. This strategy can backfire if decay present becomes extensive and a root canal or an extraction becomes necessary.

To sum up, most people can tell that part of a tooth is missing and often they experience little or no pain. Once a hole or sharp edge is detected it is best to arrange a visit to a dentist. Even if a patient can not afford a permanent restoration an interim temporary filling can be placed that can help protect the tooth from further deterioration. 



from Ask Dr. Spindel - http://lspindelnycdds.blogspot.com/2019/05/how-can-i-tell-if-i-have-lost-filling.html - http://lspindelnycdds.blogspot.com/

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