I love that my family dentist is tech-savvy. It's so easy to book a dentist on his smartphone app if I have a tooth problem or if anyone in my family needs emergency problems (I can choose either my normal dentist or another dentist in his practise depending on availability). He also has some great cameras so that we can see exactly what is going on during treatment. I prefer not to see this, but my kids love to be able to see the dentist using his specialised tools to clean and repair their teeth. This blog has some tips on finding a tech-savvy dentist to help give your family the best possible dental care.
When a patient has a new filling done at the dentist, it generally takes 1-2 days to get used to it. Thereafter, it no longer feels like it doesn't belong. However, if flossing is a part of your dental hygiene routine, you should be careful when flossing near your filling. If you floss incorrectly, or if the floss catches a filling awkwardly, you could end up pulling the filling out.
Temporary Fillings Require Extra Care
If you are waiting for another dental restoration, such as a dental crown, to be completed, your dentist will give you a temporary filling. Temporary fillings are made of materials with a short life span, such as zinc oxide eugenol. That means they should only last for about a month, or until your permanent dental restoration is ready.
When it comes to flossing with temporary fillings, you need to be extra careful. Temporary fillings are not as securely bonded to teeth as standard fillings. This means that whilst you are flossing you should take care not to catch the edge of the filling. Remove the floss by pulling it from the side, by its end. Do not pull the floss upwards.
Flossing Can Damage Standard Fillings Too
Although standard fillings are stronger and designed to last for many years, flossing can still damage them. For instance, if a new filling has even a slight edge, the floss may catch on it. Fortunately, you can usually tell if that has happened, and gently ease the floss from between your teeth by its end.
However, fillings that are done on the side of a tooth can also interfere with flossing. While this is rare, if your floss shreds or becomes stuck between your teeth due to a filling, you should have your dentist smooth the filling down to create more space. You can also switch to using waxed floss if you struggle to floss next to a filling without breaking the floss.
Is a Broken Filling an Emergency?
A broken filling is not a typical dental emergency. However, you may experience pain and sensitivity until the filling is replaced. If you won't be able to see your dentist for a while, you can purchase a temporary filling kit from a local pharmacy. However, these kits are temporary. Attempting to use them as a permanent solution could lead to dental decay beneath the filling.
Although in most cases, flossing does not affect fillings, be gentle at first. Once you get used to the presence of the filling, flossing around it will become second nature.
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