Filling fell out or broke off? Here is what to do

As a dentist at Tandarts West in Rotterdam West, I get this question on the phone almost daily: my filling fell out, what now? Often followed by whether it does any harm to wait a while. The good news is that a lost or broken filling can almost always be repaired. The less good news: a tooth without its filling deteriorates faster than most people think. That is why you will read here, step by step, what is wise to do.

Why does a filling fall out?

A filling replaces the part of a tooth that was lost to decay. White composite fillings are bonded to the tooth and last for years with good care. Still, no filling lasts forever. When a filling comes loose or breaks, it usually has one of these causes.

• New decay under or next to the filling. This is the most common cause. Bacteria creep along the edge, the tooth underneath softens and the filling loses its grip.
• Wear and age. After years of chewing, small cracks appear and edges come loose.
• Grinding or clenching. If you grind at night, you put far more force on fillings than with normal chewing. Read more about teeth grinding and what you can do about it.
• Hard or sticky food. A pit, a nut, a hard crust or a sticky toffee can give the final push.
• A large filling in a weakened tooth. The less natural tooth is left, the greater the chance that the filling or part of the tooth breaks off.

Sometimes it is not a filling but a piece of your own tooth that has broken off. That feels the same and the approach is almost identical. Read more on our page about a broken tooth. If it concerns a crown rather than a filling, read our article about a loose or broken crown.

A filling rarely falls out for no reason. It almost always tells us something about the tooth underneath.

First aid: what you can do yourself and what to avoid

What you can do yourself

• Rinse your mouth. Use lukewarm water to rinse away loose pieces. If you found the filling in your mouth, you can throw it away. A filling that has fallen out cannot be put back.
• Keep the tooth clean. Keep brushing gently, including the open cavity, and rinse after eating. Food left in the hole quickly causes new decay.
• Chew on the other side. The tooth is weaker now and can break further under load.
• Avoid hot, cold and sweet. The dentine is exposed and reacts sensitively.
• Cover a sharp edge. If the edge rubs against your tongue, a piece of sugar-free chewing gum or a temporary filling kit from the pharmacy helps for now. That bridges a few days, it is not a solution.
• Take a painkiller if needed. Paracetamol as directed on the package is usually enough.

What to avoid

• No glue. Superglue or any other glue does not belong in your mouth, damages the tooth and makes a neat new filling harder.
• Do not poke in the hole with a toothpick, needle or fingernail. You damage the dentine and the gum.
• Do not wait for weeks. Even without pain the tooth deteriorates. A small repair then becomes a big one.

Is it an emergency and how long can you wait?

A filling that falls out is usually not an emergency. If you have little or no pain, an appointment within a few days is fine. I advise against waiting longer than a week. Food and bacteria collect in the open cavity, and the thin walls of the tooth break further easily. What can be solved today with a regular filling may need a crown or a root canal treatment a few months from now.

Do call our emergency dentist the same day with:

• severe, throbbing pain that does not ease with a regular painkiller;
• a swollen cheek, swollen gums or fever, which can indicate an infection;
• a sharp edge that keeps cutting your tongue or cheek;
• a large piece of the tooth that broke off with the filling.

In doubt? Feel free to call 010 846 6539 and we will assess together how quickly you need to be seen. Outside our opening hours, emergency care runs via Tandartsenpost010. If you live in Rotterdam West, for example in Delfshaven or Middelland, you can reach us on the Taandersstraat within minutes. If you also have a nagging ache next to the hole, read what you can do about toothache.

How the dentist repairs it

At Tandarts West Rotterdam it always starts with a look. I check the tooth, the gum around it and how deep the cavity is. I often take a small X-ray to see whether there was decay under the old filling and how close it comes to the nerve. Then we discuss what is needed. There are roughly three outcomes.

A new filling

This is the solution in most cases. I numb the tooth if you wish, remove affected tooth tissue and build up a new white composite filling in layers, in the colour of your own tooth. That is done in one appointment and you can chew again straight away.

A crown

If too little solid tooth is left to hold a large filling reliably, a crown is more durable. It fits over the tooth like a cap and protects it against breaking further. Read more on our page about crowns and bridges.

Treating the nerve first

If the decay was so deep that the nerve is inflamed, a root canal treatment is needed first. You usually notice this by spontaneous, throbbing pain or pain that gets worse at night. Only after that do we seal the tooth permanently.

Whatever it turns out to be, you hear in advance what we will do, why and what it costs. Nothing happens that you have not agreed to.

What does a new filling cost in 2026?

The rates for fillings are set by law by the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) and apply as a maximum for every dentist in the Netherlands. So for the price it does not matter which dentist makes the filling. For a white composite filling these maximum rates apply in 2026:

Surfaces are the sides of the tooth the filling touches. A small filling on top of the tooth is one surface, a filling that also restores the side counts as two or three. An anaesthetic and a small X-ray are only added when they are needed. You will find a complete overview on our page with dental rates.

Up to the age of 18, a filling is covered by the basic health insurance. From 18, reimbursement depends on your supplementary dental insurance. Read what your insurer covers on our page about insurance coverage. Regular dental care for adults does not count towards the deductible (eigen risico).

How to prevent it happening again

With good care a filling lasts many years. A few habits reduce the chance of ending up with a hole in your tooth again.

• Clean between your teeth too. New decay starts right at the edge of a filling. Use interdental brushes or floss daily, alongside brushing with fluoride toothpaste.
• Come for check-ups. At a regular check-up we often spot a leaking edge or an early cavity before the filling comes loose.
• Do you grind at night? Ask about a night guard. It absorbs the forces and spares your fillings.
• Be careful with hard and sticky food on a tooth with a large filling. Ice cubes, nuts and toffees are notorious.

Finally: a fright is perfectly normal when you suddenly feel a piece of filling in your mouth, but it is rarely serious. Keep the tooth clean, stay away from the glue and do not wait too long to call. At Tandarts West Rotterdam we usually turn it back into a solid tooth in one appointment.