What to Do When a Filling Comes Out: A Lost Resin, Inlay or Temporary Filling

If a resin filling or inlay comes out, keep the piece, avoid chewing on that side, and contact the dentist as soon as possible. The exposed tooth is weak and breaks easily, and the cause may be secondary decay underneath. If a temporary filling came out during treatment, a newly made inlay may not fit, so it is even more urgent.

Published 2026-11-08 · Updated 2026-11-08 · DentalStatics editorial team

Key facts

Long-term problems of resin	With long use, resin can fracture (chip or crack) or secondary decay can develop (source: KDCA National Health Information Portal)
Resin lifespan	Reported in the literature as varying from 3.3 to 16 years (source: KDCA National Health Information Portal)
If a temporary filling comes out	A newly made gold inlay may not fit (source: KDCA National Health Information Portal)
Caution with temporary fillings	It does not bond to the tooth, so avoid foods with big temperature changes and tough foods (source: KDCA National Health Information Portal)
Gold inlay visits	Two or more visits needed for making and treatment (source: KDCA National Health Information Portal)
Resin and health insurance	Applies only to permanent-tooth cavity treatment in ages 12 and under (source: Ministry of Health and Welfare and HIRA)

What should I do first when a filling comes out?

When a filling comes out, the tooth has a hole exposed even if there is no pain right now. The exposed part easily traps food, and if the remaining tooth wall is thin it can break while chewing. Handle it in the order below and hurry to book a dental visit.

The fallen piece helps the dentist judge the cause. In particular, a filling made separately and cemented, such as a gold inlay, may be considered for re-cementing if in good condition, so bring it rather than throwing it away.

Keep the fallen filling piece in a clean container
Do not chew on that side, and avoid sticky or hard food
Remove food trapped in the hole with a soft toothbrush and a water rinse
If it is sensitive or hurts, avoid food that is too cold or hot

Why do fillings come out?

The most common cause is decay that has formed again at the edge of the filling. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA, 질병관리청) explains that with long use of composite resin, the resin can chip or crack and secondary decay can form around the restoration. When decay spreads beneath the filling, the holding force weakens and it falls off.

Resin lifespan is reported in the literature as varying from 3.3 to 16 years, so there is no set period after which it must be replaced. Besides this, fillings can come out when chewing sticky caramel or rice cake or hard ice, when large forces are repeated by grinding, or when the tooth around the filling has cracked.

Can a lost inlay or resin be put back?

A gold or tooth-colored inlay that was made separately and cemented is sometimes cemented back after cleaning, if it is not broken and the tooth beneath has no decay. The KDCA explains that gold inlays do not break easily under chewing force and many people use them for more than 10 years, but since they cannot bond to the tooth by themselves and need a luting cement, the cause of the loss must be checked first.

Resin is a material built up directly on the tooth and hardened, so the fallen piece is not reattached; the tooth is filled anew. If there is decay beneath, it is removed and then a choice is made again among resin, inlay and crown according to size. If the remaining tooth is too thin, covering the tooth may be recommended.

What if a temporary filling comes out during treatment?

While an inlay is being made, the tooth is filled with a temporary filling. The KDCA advises avoiding foods with big temperature changes and tough foods during treatment, since a temporary filling is not a material that bonds to the tooth.

If you go on with the temporary filling out, the tooth may move slightly or the shaved surface may become contaminated, so a newly made inlay may not fit. If you notice it has come out, do not wait for the next appointment; contact the dentist and have it filled again. A gold inlay needs two or more visits for making and treatment, so care in between is important.

What about cost and health insurance for re-filling?

Since 2019, National Health Insurance has covered light-cured composite resin for permanent-tooth cavity treatment in ages 12 and under. If the cause of the loss is decay, a child in this age group can be treated under the coverage criteria. However, resin on a tooth with root canal treatment, or for wear, erosion or fracture, is not covered.

Adult resin and inlays are non-covered, so prices differ by clinic and material. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has stated that resin fillings and crowns are non-covered items commonly done at dental clinics, and non-covered prices by clinic can be checked beforehand on the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA, 건강보험심사평가원) website and the Geongang-eum app.

Common myths and facts

Myth: If a filling comes out but does not hurt, it is not urgent.

The exposed tooth breaks easily, and the cause may be secondary decay. Even without pain, it is good to have a dentist check as soon as possible.

Myth: A gold inlay lasts a lifetime once done.

Gold inlays often last long, but since they are held by luting cement, they can come off through decay at the edge or weakened cement, so regular checks are needed.

Frequently asked questions

I cannot get to the dentist because it is the weekend. How do I cope?

Do not chew on the side where it came out; eat soft food on the other side. After meals rinse with water and clean around the hole with a soft toothbrush so food does not stay. If pain is severe or swelling appears, contact a place that offers emergency care.

May I just put the fallen gold inlay back in at home?

Placing it without dental luting cement risks swallowing it or having it go into the airway while chewing. It is safer to keep the piece in a container and decide whether to re-cement after the dentist checks its condition.

It came out soon after it was filled.

If it came out right after treatment, it needs checking whether the problem was the bonding process, the remaining tooth structure or the chewing force. It is good to contact the dentist who treated you at once, explain the situation and be seen again.

The resin chipped a little. Does all of it have to be redone?

If the chipped area is small and there is no decay around it, sometimes only the chipped part is repaired. If edge discoloration or decay is also present, it may be better to remove the existing resin and fill anew, which the dentist decides after seeing the condition.

The spot where it came out is sensitive and painful.

When a filling comes out and dentin is exposed, the tooth can be sensitive to cold or sweets. If throbbing pain continues or worsens at night, decay may have progressed close to the nerve and the nerve condition needs to be tested.

References

Korean version →