Emergency dental treatments
Emergency temporary filling: how it works and how long it lasts
A quick, soft filling that seals a broken or decayed tooth, takes the sensitivity away and buys a few weeks until the permanent repair. Usually placed in the same visit.
Clinically reviewed by Dr Ibraheem Ijaz, Principal Dentist · GDC 301711 · Last reviewed April 2026
When a temporary filling is the right choice
A tooth hurts when its inside is exposed. Under the enamel is dentine, a layer of tiny tubes that run straight to the nerve. When a filling falls out or a corner breaks off, those tubes are open to air, cold drinks and sugar, and every one of them reports back to the nerve. A temporary filling closes the tubes. That is why the relief is often immediate.
We reach for a temporary filling rather than a permanent one when there is not time in an emergency slot to do the job properly, when the tooth needs to calm down before we can judge whether the nerve will survive, when decay is deep and we want to see how the tooth responds over a few weeks, or when the final treatment is going to be a crown or a root canal and the tooth needs sealing in the meantime. If you have lost a filling or have a broken tooth with no swelling, a temporary filling is the most likely same-day treatment.
It is not the right choice when the tooth has a raging nerve that will not settle, when there is an abscess, or when so little tooth remains that nothing will stay in. In those cases the honest answer is a first-stage root canal or an extraction, and we will say so.
The materials we use and why they smell of cloves
The classic temporary filling is zinc oxide eugenol. Eugenol is clove oil, which is why the material smells and tastes faintly of cloves and why it soothes an irritated nerve. It is soft to place, sets in a few minutes, and can be picked out easily when we come to do the permanent filling. The trade-off is that it wears, which is why it is temporary.
For a tooth that needs to last longer, or to take more chewing, we often use glass ionomer instead. It bonds chemically to the tooth, releases fluoride into the surrounding enamel and can last several months. It is tooth-coloured, so it is the better option for a front tooth. Some deep cavities get a lining of calcium hydroxide first, which encourages the nerve to lay down a protective layer of new dentine beneath it.
Placing a temporary filling step by step
Examination and X-ray.
Numbing, if needed.
Cleaning out the cavity.
Drying and placing.
Setting.
Temporary and permanent filling fees
The temporary filling is priced as a separate item from the permanent one; you are not paying twice for the same work. Full details are on the emergency fees page.
| Treatment | Fee (from) |
|---|---|
| Emergency examination including X-rays | £30 |
| Temporary filling | Quoted in writing at the examination, before it is placed |
| Permanent white composite filling | £150–£220 |
| Permanent silver amalgam filling | £120–£160 |
| Out-of-hours (after 6pm weekdays, weekends) | Additional charge |
Looking after a temporary filling
The first 24 hours. Do not chew on the tooth for at least an hour, and ideally eat on the other side for the rest of the day. Avoid very hot drinks until any anaesthetic has worn off so you do not scald your lip or tongue. Painkillers are rarely needed, but paracetamol or ibuprofen as directed on the packet is fine if the tooth aches as the nerve settles.
The first week. Avoid toffee, chewing gum, hard crusts and nuts on that side; sticky foods pull temporary material out and hard foods crack it. Brush the tooth normally but gently, and floss by pulling the floss out sideways rather than lifting it back up through the contact. Some sensitivity to cold in the first few days is normal and should fade. Pain that gets worse, wakes you at night or starts throbbing without any trigger means the nerve is not recovering, and you should call us rather than wait for the planned appointment.
Getting the permanent filling done
A temporary filling is a bridge, not a destination. Zinc oxide eugenol fillings are reliable for two to four weeks; glass ionomer can go a few months. We book the permanent treatment before you leave, usually within two to three weeks. At that visit we remove the temporary, check that the tooth has settled, and either place the permanent white or silver filling, or move on to a crown or root canal if that is what the tooth needs. If the tooth has stayed comfortable through the temporary phase, that is a good sign the nerve is healthy.
If a great deal of tooth is missing, a filling alone may not be strong enough and an all-ceramic crown may be the longer-lasting repair. We will explain the difference and the fees at the examination, not spring it on you later.
What a temporary filling cannot do
- It cannot cure an infected nerve. If the pain is spontaneous or lingers after hot drinks, the nerve is dying and sealing it in will not help.
- It cannot hold a tooth together. A cracked tooth needs a crown to stop the crack spreading; a filling only covers the hole.
- It will not last. Leave a temporary filling for months and it wears, leaks and lets decay continue underneath while feeling fine.
- It is not a permanent filling placed cheaply. The materials are chosen for speed and kindness to the nerve, not strength.
Questions, answered
Common questions
How long does a temporary filling last?
A zinc oxide temporary filling is reliable for around two to four weeks. A glass ionomer temporary can last several months. Either way, it should be replaced with a permanent filling at the appointment we book for you.
Can I eat with a temporary filling?
Yes, after the first hour. Chew on the other side where you can and avoid sticky or very hard foods on that tooth until the permanent filling is in place.
Does having a temporary filling hurt?
Placing one is usually painless and often done without anaesthetic. If the tooth is sensitive we numb it first. Mild sensitivity for a few days afterwards is normal.
My temporary filling has fallen out. What should I do?
Keep the tooth clean, avoid chewing on it, and call us. A chemist’s temporary filling kit can cover it overnight. We can usually replace it the same day.
Why not just put the permanent filling in straight away?
Sometimes we do. We use a temporary when the tooth needs time to settle, when the emergency slot is too short for a proper permanent filling, or when the final treatment may be a crown or root canal.
Can I use a chemist’s temporary filling kit instead of seeing a dentist?
A kit is a reasonable stop-gap for a night or a weekend. It does not remove decay, check the nerve or take an X-ray, so it should not replace an examination. Our guide to temporary fixes before your appointment explains how to use one safely.
In pain? Don’t wait
Same-day emergency appointments, seven days a week.
£30 emergency examination including X-rays. Call now and a real person answers, or grab a slot online.
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