All About Temporary Fillings
Cavities, or tooth decay, can form as the result of frequently consuming sugary foods and drinks, not brushing or flossing regularly, and having too much bacteria in the mouth.
These permanently damaged areas can cause:
- visible holes in a tooth
- brown or black stains
- tooth sensitivity
- sharp pain
A dental filling can replace parts of a damaged tooth and prevent further decay. Although fillings are usually permanent, your doctor might initially treat tooth decay with a temporary filling.
Keep reading to learn more about temporary fillings, how long they last, and the procedure for putting one in.
A temporary filling is just that — a temporary treatment to restore a damaged tooth. These fillings aren’t meant to last, and as a semi-permanent solution, you’ll need to schedule a follow-up appointment with your dentist to have the temporary filling replaced with a permanent one.
Dentists use temporary fillings under certain conditions. The process of putting in a temporary filling can be quicker than putting in a permanent filling. So if you have a cavity that causes severe, sharp pain — and your dentist doesn’t have time to put in a permanent filling — you can receive a temporary filling as an emergency treatment.
Temporary cap for dental crowns
Your dentist might also put in a temporary cap if a deep cavity requires a dental crown (cap placed over the tooth). The filling protects your tooth until the crown is ready.
Temporary seal after a root canal
A badly decayed tooth might also require a root canal to remove bacteria from inside the tooth and ultimately save it. A temporary filling after a root canal can seal a hole in a tooth. This prevents food and bacteria from getting into the hole and causing further dental problems.
After the root canal heals, your dentist replaces the temporary filling with a permanent one.
Temporary medicated filling to settle sensitive nerves
Your dentist might put in a temporary medicated filling if your tooth is very sensitive. This will settle down the nerve and allow the tooth to heal before a more permanent filling is placed.
Your dentist will reevaluate the tooth at a later appointment to make sure that your pain has gone away and you don’t need any further treatment, like a root canal.