Cracked Filling? Convenient Hours and Flexible Care for Dental Emergencies

Cracked a filling? That’s never a good feeling. But fillings do crack — they aren’t designed to last forever. If you crack a filling, don’t panic! Call us at Cincinnati dentist at Beckham Square Family Dental right away. We see patients for emergencies every day, which is why we set aside appointments for these situations.

Why Do Fillings Crack?

Cracked fillings are a natural result of the wear and tear our teeth endure. Fillings are generally strong, but they’re not as robust as natural teeth.

Certain foods can be hard on teeth and fillings. Chewing on ice is a common cause of filling damage. Hard candies, potato chips, and dried fruit can also break fillings, as can grinding your teeth at night or clenching your jaw too often. Fillings are great, but they’re not as strong as your natural teeth.

Over time, fillings weaken as they remain in place. That’s why you should get regular dental care from your family dentist, ideally every six months. In addition to looking for cavities, your dentist will inspect your fillings for any holes. We perform a complete inspection of your smile to ensure everything is in top shape, and we update your X-rays every year so your dentist knows what’s going on inside and out.

Never Ignore a Cracked Filling

A broken filling isn’t the end of the world, but it’s not something to ignore. Any crack lets bacteria reach the tooth, leading to further decay. This can even weaken the root and create an infection that, if left untreated, can worsen and require medical attention. Just because it might not hurt doesn’t mean you shouldn’t call to schedule an emergency dental appointment. These issues are best handled sooner rather than later.

Once a filling has cracked, the dentist will first check whether it can be repaired. Often, you’ll need to replace the filling entirely, a simple, painless, and quick process.

If an infection has spread to the root, you may need a root canal to remove the decay. A dental crown may be necessary after the root canal, depending on the extent of the damage to the tooth.

Experiencing Dental Pain? What to Do in the Meantime

If you are experiencing dental pain and can’t get in to see the dentist immediately, there are several remedies you can try at home:

• Take over-the-counter medicines such as ibuprofen or Tylenol. For children, use acetaminophen or Children’s Tylenol. If you use aspirin, swallow it whole. Don’t place it on the tooth or gums.
• Rinse with a warm saltwater mixture: about 1/2 teaspoon of table salt to 8 ounces of water. Rinse for 30 seconds, then spit it out. Don’t swallow.
• Apply an ice pack to the painful side of your mouth for about 7 minutes.

It might take a few hours for us to squeeze you in at Beckham Square Family Dental, so in the meantime, take care of your broken filling and yourself.

Our Approach to Repairing Cracked or Broken Fillings

When you come in for an emergency dental appointment, there are several options for repairing a cracked or missing filling. If the tooth is structurally sound and the decay isn’t too extensive, we’ll redrill the filling and replace it. Sometimes the tooth is so decayed that we might opt for a crown to fully protect it.

In rare cases, if the missing filling is ignored for too long before seeing your family dentist, the tooth itself may crack. This may require dental veneers, or, in extreme cases, if there is not enough stable tooth left to attach a crown, we may have to extract the tooth and opt for an implant crown, which is an artificial tooth that is drilled into your jawbone and functions like a regular tooth.

Scheduling an Appointment is Easy

If you have a cracked filling, don’t panic. Call us at Beckham Square Family Dental immediately, or fill out our contact form. We are a family dental practice located just north of Cincinnati with convenient morning and evening hours. In most cases, we can schedule same-day or same-week appointments.

We’re here for you. We feature a comfortable office and provide gentle family dentistry to the communities of Blue Ash, Sharonville, Evendale, Springdale, and the surrounding areas!