Temporary Fillings
Why we place temporary fillings, how long they are meant to last, eating and brushing with one, and what to do if it falls out or hurts.
How Long Does a Temporary Filling Last?
A temporary filling is made to last weeks, not years. It seals and protects a tooth until the permanent repair is done: after an emergency appointment, between the stages of root canal treatment, or while a tooth waits for an onlay or crown. It is softer than a permanent filling, so chew on the other side, avoid hard and sticky food, and come back on the date you're given. If it falls out, feels high or starts to hurt, call us: at Peninsula Dentists on Greenwich Peninsula a temporary filling is £70, and same-day appointments run Monday to Saturday.
What a Temporary Filling Is, and Why We Place One
A temporary filling is a soft-setting material that seals a tooth for a short time. It keeps food and bacteria out, protects what is left of the tooth and lets sensitivity settle until the lasting repair can be done. We use one in three situations:
- After an emergency appointment, when a tooth has broken, lost a filling or needs to calm down first
- Between the stages of root canal treatment, where the tooth is dressed and sealed until it is completed
- When a tooth needs an onlay or crown, to protect it until that work is planned and made
How Long It Lasts
Weeks rather than months. Temporary materials are designed to come out easily when the permanent work is done, which also means they wear and wash out faster than a permanent filling. How long yours holds depends on its size, where it sits and how hard you bite on it, so the date that matters is the one we give you for the next appointment, not how long the material might survive.
Temporary Filling Come Out or Hurting?
Call before 9.30am, Monday to Saturday, and we'll aim to see you the same day.
Eating and Brushing with a Temporary Filling
- If you've been numbed, wait for the feeling to return before eating, so you don't bite your cheek or lip
- Chew on the other side where you can, and avoid hard, crunchy or sticky food such as nuts, toffee and chewing gum, which can crack or pull the filling out
- Keep brushing that tooth gently twice a day and clean between your teeth, sliding the floss out sideways rather than snapping it up past the filling
- Very hot or cold drinks may give a twinge; that usually settles
If It Falls Out, Feels High or Hurts
A temporary filling that falls out leaves the tooth open, so call us the same day. Ring before 9.30am, Monday to Saturday, and our emergency dentist in Greenwich will try to see you before the day is out, whether you are a patient here yet or not. An emergency appointment is £70, and a temporary filling £70.2 Until you're seen, keep the area clean and chew on the other side.
A filling that feels high when you bite needs adjusting, because it can make the tooth sore. Pain that keeps building, swelling or a bad taste can mean infection: read our advice on a dental abscess, and go to A&E if swelling affects your breathing, swallowing or eye.
The Permanent Repair That Follows
The temporary filling is a holding step. Once the tooth has settled, or the earlier treatment is complete, it is replaced with a lasting restoration: a white filling for a smaller repair, or a ceramic onlay or crown where more of the tooth needs protecting. After root canal treatment, most back teeth need an onlay or crown. We explain which and why, with the fee in writing first.
Fees
| Treatment | Fee |
|---|---|
| Emergency appointment, registered or not | £70 |
| Temporary filling | £70 |
| White filling, front tooth, from | £105 |
| White filling, back tooth, from | £118 |
| Emergency root canal, first stage, per canal, from | £199 |
| Ceramic onlay, from | £650 |
On a dental plan, emergency appointments are free and temporary fillings are included.2
Questions
This guide explains the options in general terms. Only an examination can tell you which of them suits your own teeth.