What to Do With a Loose Composite Filling

Composite fillings, especially newer ones, are reasonably strong and durable, but they can wear out over time. Excess pressure, such as may occur when you grind your teeth, can cause them to wear out more quickly. Poor dental hygiene may contribute to decay that can compromise fillings. A filling that is loose is not a dental emergency, but it does require attention as soon as possible.

How do you know if a filling is loose?

Some symptoms of a loose filling are obvious, while others are more subtle. You may not realize that you have a problem with your composite fillings until you see your dentist, who makes the diagnosis. On the other hand, you may have to make a special appointment between routine cleanings to have a dentist evaluate your symptomatic tooth. Here are some specific signs you may experience.

Pain

A loose filling may expose the nerves in the pulp of the tooth to air, resulting in pain. This can range in severity and may be sharp, aching, or throbbing in quality. You may feel pain particularly when your top and bottom teeth come together, due to the contact between two surfaces made of metal.

Sensitivity

A tooth with a composite filling that has come loose may be unusually sensitive to certain stimuli:

• Pressure
• Air
• Sweetness
• Temperature

Teeth with loose composite fillings may be sensitive to either hot or cold temperatures.

Interference

If a filling is loose, it may make the contours of your bite feel off when your teeth come together. You may not be able to bring your teeth together as normal because the loose filling is coming between your upper and lower teeth.

Roughness

After a filling, tooth surfaces are usually smooth. If you detect roughness along a surface of a tooth with your tongue, it could be a sign of a loose filling.

Visual signs

It may be possible to tell that a filling is loose by looking at the tooth. As a layperson, you may not know what to look for or recognize the significance of what you are seeing, but your dentist will know what it means.

What should you do if you have loose composite fillings?

If you notice signs that a filling has come loose, you should contact your dentist's office as soon as possible. The situation will not improve if you wait. If anything, the problem may become worse.

If you are in pain, the office staff will try to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. However, it may be several hours, or possibly days, before you can see the dentist. In the interim, you can use over-the-counter pain medication or an ice pack to relieve the symptoms. You can gargle with antiseptic mouthwash to kill bacteria. You should try to keep the tooth clean by brushing carefully.