I have an irrational fear that my temporary dental filling will fall out at night and choke me

[ChiquititaCat]

Is this even possible or am I being ridiculuous? I've had a temporary filling put in waiting for my crown. It was a newly qualified dentist and she said she had to use a different material to normal for some reason and to be careful with chewing on that side as it's not super strong. Now I'm worried it will fall off at night and choke me haha!

I'm sure it won't be big enough to block your airway?

I don't know it's sort of covering the whole tooth because it's for a crown, rather than a normal filling

They are pretty strong. You could break it if you bite hard on it but, assuming it was done properly, it certainly isn’t just going to fall out while you are asleep.

I had one that lasted about ten years where the dentist had started a root canal but couldn’t complete it, and I was too nervous to go and get it finished off properly.

DD had one that lasted a couple of years because at age 10, the dentist said it wasn’t worth putting a proper filling in a baby tooth as she would lose it soon, and the temporary one would do. She lost the tooth about two years later with temporary filling still firmly intact.

I also think that if it did fall out, it’s more likely that it would just wake you up because you would feel something in your mouth, rather than blocking your airway.

I had the exact same fear and slept face down. Realistically, if it did lodge in your airway, you’d wake up and either cough it up or swallow it.

Do you eat and chew during your sleep OP? If the thing is not secure enough it's far more likely to come off during the day than in your sleep.

I had one once, this never crossed my mind.

You're probably right but i was worried she said the material used wasn't ideal...! But hopefully it only means it could fall off when chewing etc

I had one recently and it did come out. I would recommend avoiding fruit pastilles.

Until I ate them it was solid and no problem

Hahaha noted!!