Emergency
Lost filling
A lost filling is a filling that has fallen out or broken, leaving a hole in the tooth. Sugarless gum or dental cement can cover it until you see a dentist.
Sometimes old dental restorations can fall out or become dislodged. A lost filling leaves the inside of the tooth open to food, bacteria, and temperature changes. It may cause pain or sensitivity, but sometimes it does not.
Cleveland Clinic suggests that if you have a broken or missing filling, you can stick a piece of sugarless gum into the cavity or use an over-the-counter dental cement. Sugar-filled gum will cause pain. See your dentist as soon as possible. The tooth may need a new filling or a crown.
A temporary filling may be placed first. Do not wait until it hurts, because decay can grow in an open tooth. See the dental fillings page for the practice's own description.