I Have a Cracked Filling—Now What?

A filling can crack for many reasons. Maybe it wasn’t fitted correctly and now interferes with your bite. Perhaps it’s old and needs to be replaced. Another common issue is jaw clenching or teeth grinding, especially during sleep, both of which wear down your natural teeth and fillings.

Anything that can cause you to crack a tooth can cause you to break a filling. Either way, the consequences are the same: possible pain and vulnerability to infection. Here’s why you should take cracked fillings seriously and what you should do about them.

Is a cracked filling really a big deal?

Yes, a cracked filling is a big deal. It doesn’t count as a medical emergency, but it is a valid reason to see an emergency dentist nearby for treatment. A cracked filling deserves immediate attention because that filling protects a hole in your tooth where a cavity was removed. If the filling is broken, food, drink, bacteria, and other substances can penetrate that hole and cause further decay, infection, and other problems.

How long can I let my cracked filling go?

If you’re tempted to put off fixing a cracked filling, let us be completely clear: You shouldn’t wait. If you have a cracked or broken filling, get it checked as soon as possible. The worst-case scenario for delaying treatment is an infection that spreads to your tooth’s nerve, often requiring a root canal.

What do I do if my filling cracks?

As soon as you discover a damaged filling, contact an emergency dentist immediately. And yes, you can contact us at Beckham Square Family Dental. We leave appointments open for emergency treatments. However, even at our Cincinnati office, it may take us a few hours or up to a day to get you in, but we’ll make sure to see you as soon as possible.

What do I do before I can see the dentist?

If you need to wait a few hours before treatment, there’s no need to worry. In the meantime, be very careful about what you eat and drink. You can also use home remedies to clean the area and manage any pain. Garlic or garlic extract has antibacterial properties. Try swishing with warm salt water every few hours to relieve pain and remove any debris that may collect in the crack. Gently chewing on a warm, soaked peppermint tea bag can also reduce pain and combat harmful bacteria.

Rapid Care Today Prevents Serious Problems Tomorrow

A crack in a filling can happen unexpectedly, but the time and effort it takes to get it repaired will save you money, pain, and further inconvenience in the long run. At Beckham Square Family Dental, we treat cracked fillings and other dental emergencies seriously, and we’ll get you in as soon as possible to address your issue.