Most broken fillings can wait a few days for an appointment. A few cannot. The difference comes down to pain, swelling and how much of the tooth is now open to the mouth, and a few minutes of checking will tell you which group you are in.
Either way, the tooth should not be left for long. Once part of a filling has gone, the tooth underneath has lost its seal, food and bacteria can collect in the gap, and a weakened wall of tooth can crack further under chewing.
Working out how soon to be seen
| What you notice | Suggested timing |
|---|---|
| A small rough patch or chip, no pain | Book an appointment in the coming days |
| Twinges with cold, hot or sweet food | Book soon, and avoid the triggers meanwhile |
| A sharp edge catching your tongue or cheek | Book soon and cover the edge until then |
| Strong, throbbing or lingering pain, or pain that wakes you | Call for a prompt appointment |
| Swelling in the gum or face, a bad taste, or fever | Seek urgent care the same day |
If facial swelling is spreading, affects your eye or makes swallowing or breathing difficult, go to a hospital emergency department.
Looking after the tooth until your appointment
Rinse gently with warm water to clear loose fragments. A hard piece you find may be part of the filling rather than the tooth, and it is worth keeping to show the dentist. Brush the area gently as usual, since a clean tooth is less likely to become sore.
A sharp edge can be covered with orthodontic or dental wax from a pharmacy, or with a small piece of sugar-free gum. Pharmacies also sell temporary filling material, which can make the tooth more comfortable for a few days. Treat it as a stopgap until you can be seen, not a repair.
Chew on the other side, and avoid very hard, sticky or chewy foods. Paracetamol or ibuprofen, taken as directed on the packet, can help if the tooth is sore. Never hold an aspirin tablet against the gum, because it can burn the soft tissue.
Things that make it worse
- Glue of any kind. Household adhesives are not made for the mouth and can trap bacteria against the tooth.
- Probing the gap with a toothpick, fingernail or your tongue, which can chip away more of the weakened edge.
- Waiting for pain before booking. Decay under a broken filling often causes no symptoms until it is closer to the nerve.
Why fillings give way
A filling works hard. It is loaded every time you chew, and it expands and contracts slightly with hot and cold food. Over the years, the edges can wear and small gaps can open between filling and tooth. A hard bite on ice, a nut or an olive stone is often just the final straw.
A large systematic review of back-tooth composite fillings (Opdam and colleagues, Journal of Dental Research, 2014) found that the main reasons fillings failed were new decay and fracture. Failure was more likely in people at higher risk of decay and in larger fillings that covered more surfaces of the tooth. Clenching or grinding also adds stress.
A filling with a crack in it can cause similar symptoms, and our article on a cracked filling covers that. If a whole filling or a crown has come out, see our guide to a lost filling or crown.
What repairing it may involve
The dentist first looks at what is left: how much filling remains, whether the tooth walls are intact, and whether decay has formed underneath. An X-ray may be taken.
A small break with sound tooth around it can often be repaired or replaced with a new filling at one visit. When a large part of the tooth has gone, a bigger filling may not be strong enough, and a crown or onlay can be recommended to hold the tooth together. If decay or a crack has reached the nerve, root canal treatment may be needed to keep the tooth. When grinding is part of the cause, a night guard may help protect the new work. Our article on getting a filling describes the appointment.
Common questions
Can I leave a broken filling if it does not hurt?
Not for long. A painless broken filling still leaves part of the tooth unsealed, and decay can progress without symptoms. Booking within days is sensible.
Why does the tooth hurt more at night?
Lying down, fewer distractions and clenching in sleep can all make an exposed tooth feel worse. Our guide to toothache at night has tips for getting through until your appointment.
If a filling has broken, our dentists at Lumi Dental can check the tooth, repair it and explain whether anything more is needed to protect it. Book with a dentist in Melrose Park or see the current deals.
This article is general information and is not a substitute for personal dental advice. For advice about your own teeth, please see a dentist.
