How Long Does a Temporary Filling Last?

The short answer to this question is, that, on average a temporary filling will last about 3-4 weeks in a suitable condition. However, if a tooth is badly broken a temporary filling may last only a couple of days since there is not enough tooth substance to hold it in. At the other end of the scale it has been known for a temporary filling to last for over a year with no apparent problem. A problem could occur if a temporary filling comes right out because then sensitive parts of the tooth are exposed and pain can start. A temporary filling may also suffer from softening due to its moist environment and the seal between itself and the tooth can become compromised allowing bacteria to get in. This can be a problem during root-canal therapy where it is essential to destroy any bacteria within a dead tooth’s root and then keep it from getting re-infected. Most modern temporary fillings do swell slightly on exposure to moisture which helps to make a good seal. This however can be breached over a period of time simply by the filling being worn away

A temporary filling is usually white, off-white, or grey in colour, and is put in for one of a number of reasons. It might be that the treatment you have had has been for an emergency situation such as a painful or broken tooth, and there simply has not been sufficient time to complete the whole job. A temporary filling material often contains eugenol, a substance that has a natural sedative effect on tooth nerves and helps to calm down a sensitive tooth.

Another reason is that a dentist who has treated a painful tooth will probably want to leave it a little while to make sure that the nerve in the tooth settles down before putting a final filling or restoration in. If a permanent filling is put in and the tooth flares up again, the whole filling would have to be drilled out again.

Another case for a temporary filling is when having root-canal therapy. This almost invariably takes at least two visits, sometimes several. The dentist cleans the roots of a tooth and then seals it for a short while, sometimes with a medicament inside, to allow inflammation in and around the tooth to subside before finally filling it up.

A temporary filling ideally needs to be easy to apply, needs to make a good seal in the cavity to stop bacterial ingress, needs to be strong enough to cope with chewing, but also easy to remove. These last two characteristics are somewhat contradictory so a temporary filling is inevitably a compromise. It has to be strong enough to last a few weeks but fairly easy to remove again. Modern types of temporary filling will make a good seal in the tooth and are strong enough to withstand light chewing for a while.

If you have a temporary filling you should treat it with as much care as possible to help it last until your next visit to the dentist. Try not to chew too hard on that area of the mouth and try not to disturb the filling with your toothbrush. Don’t be tempted to put off going back to your dentist to finish the job because if you leave it is likely to lose its seal and become contaminated, or, to suddenly come out at the most inconvenient time.

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