Regular preventative care with Drs. Lepore and Dougherty are recommended to detect potential issues with existing fillings or crowns. If a dental filling comes out or a dental crown comes off, it is because there was a reason for the restoration failure. When leakage occurs, saliva and bacteria can get under the restoration and cause tooth decay. This decay undermines your previously placed filling or crown, eventually causing it to “cave in”, fall out, or break.
When a patient feels they “lost a filling”, they have often fractured some of their tooth structure in addition to their old filling.
Causes Of Restoration To Fall Out
- Excessive grinding or clenching
- Bacteria leaking into margins of filling/crown (in between the filling and the natural tooth)
- Propagating cracks or stress lines near old fillings
- Age of restoration
- Ill-fitting crown (gaps between crown and tooth – not sealed)
- Lack of appropriate amount of cement under the crown
- Limited tooth structure remaining under a crown
A lost filling must be replaced to keep the teeth free of decay and infection. If a crown comes off, Drs. Lepore and Dougherty can determine if the crown can be re-cemented. Oftentimes, recurrent tooth decay is present, and a new crown will need to be fabricated to restore the tooth.
How Can I Extend The Life Of My Restorations?
- Fluoride trays
- PerioProtect
- Fluoride varnish with your dental cleanings
- Frequent examinations and dental cleanings
- Proper brushing and flossing
Seek Treatment Now
What to do when your filling falls out, or your tooth breaks in the Dunedin, FL area? Don’t panic! Contact Dr. Lepore or Dr. Dougherty immediately. Together you and our dentists will decide on the best treatment option for your care. After thoroughly examining your teeth, we will take a digital x-ray and photos. You don’t want to wait to seek treatment, as doing so could result in discomfort, more extensive treatment, or tooth loss.
