Loose Fillings

Fillings are the most common tool for repairing damaged teeth. At All Coast Dental in Pacific Beach, our experienced dentists have overseen the placement of thousands, allowing members of the community to continue eating normally and comfortably. But although fillings are now made to match a patient’s tooth color and are carefully contoured to avoid interfering with the patient’s bite, there is a limit to how long they can last. If you are seeing this page because you searched for loose fillings, we want you to know whether you have one, and that you shouldn’t delay seeking treatment if you do.

Fillings are held in place with seals that degrade over time. By brushing and flossing regularly, a patient can delay this, and fillings often last for as long as ten years. But eventually, the cracks in a seal will become a refuge for oral bacteria, and the process of decay will resume. When this happens, saliva may pool behind the filling and steadily leak out. The patient may also notice that their tooth has become more sensitive. If the filling is mobile and the patient can feel it moving or it is preventing them from closing their bite, they should regard that as a dental emergency and seek our care as soon as possible.

Besides being worn down, fillings can also come loose due to an acute injury to the tooth. People should avoid chewing ice or anything else extremely hard or using their teeth as tools such as can openers. Our patients should also wear customized mouthguards while playing sports. While awaiting treatment for a loose filling, patients should hold cold compresses to their faces for fifteen minutes at a time, with fifteen minute intervals. Once they’re in our office, we can remove the filling and any additional decay and provide them with a replacement, but if patients maintain regular appointments, we will be able to replace fillings before they become emergencies.

Drs. Julie and Joseph Boulos operate All Coast Dental at 2180 Garnet Ave, Suite 1-K, Pacific Beach, California, 92109. To schedule an appointment, call 858-270-4904 or visit All Coast Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

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OUR LOCATION

2180 Garnet Avenue, Suite 1-K Pacific Beach, CA 92109

HOURS OF OPERATION

Find Out When We Are Open

Business Hours

Monday:

7:40 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

7:00 am-4:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Thursday:

10:00 am-4:00 pm

(Administrative Staff)

Friday:

7:40 am-4:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed