A Filling Came Out. Now What?
Contact a dentist about a lost filling, explain any pain or damage, and ask how to protect the area while you arrange an assessment.
Call with the details
If a filling comes out, contact a dental office rather than waiting for the next routine checkup. The urgency depends on the symptoms and damage. Guidance on urgent dental care considers pain, swelling, function and how long the problem has been present, not just the label "lost filling."[1]
Tell the office whether the tooth hurts, whether an edge is cutting your tongue, and whether you can eat. Say when the filling came out and whether the tooth itself seems to have broken. Mention recent treatment on the same tooth.
Protect it without a home repair
Avoid chewing on the affected area while you seek advice. Keep the area gently clean and ask the office or pharmacist about any temporary product before using it. Household glue and improvised tools do not belong in a tooth.
Temporary protection is not an assessment of what remains underneath. Ask what examination is needed and what the likely repair options depend on. If new swelling, fever or worsening pain develops while you wait, report that change promptly; breathing or swallowing difficulty needs emergency medical help.