When one of your teeth develops a cavity, it can be restored using a filling. However, fillings don't last forever. While they should last for many years, fillings will eventually fail. This can occur due to anything from new decay developing around the filling to grinding your teeth.

In most cases, your dentist will be able to tell a filling is going to fail before it actually falls out. However, fillings may simply come out without warning. Even if you don't experience pain right away, you should still see your dentist as soon as possible since lost fillings can be considered a dental emergency.

Here are just four reasons you shouldn't delay emergency dental treatment. 

1. Further Decay

One of a dental filling's main responsibilities is preventing bacteria, plaque, and food particles from entering a cavity. Once within a cavity, they can be hard to clean away and will cause further decay. This is particularly likely if the dentin has been exposed – this is the second layer of your teeth, and it's more vulnerable to decay than enamel. If the filling is no longer present, there is no barrier to help prevent further decay.

2. Weaker Structure

Dental fillings help restore the structure of damaged or decayed teeth. If they are ever lost, the structural integrity of the tooth in question will be compromised. This means it will be less able to cope with pressure, so it's possible some of the tooth will break away if you bite down hard or grind your teeth. It's even possible your tooth could split in two.

3. Pain and Sensitivity

Some people don't experience any pain when a filling comes out, but that doesn't mean they won't feel any pain in the future. The dentin layer of your teeth is far more sensitive than the outer enamel layer. When it is exposed after a filling comes out, you may find pain developing as it encounters anything from small food particles to hot drinks. As such, it's best to address the problem before pain develops.

4. Risk of Infection

An exposed tooth is vulnerable to more than just further decay. With the cavity exposed, the tooth in question will also be at an increased risk of infection. This can lead to serious complications if that infection is allowed to spread to other parts of your mouth. In some cases, infections can even spread to the jawbone or the face and neck, so it's wise to reduce your risk of infection by having the filling replaced as soon as possible.