What to Expect After Getting a Dental Filling

Your general dentist may suggest a dental filling after a dental check. Placing a filling on a damaged section of a tooth is a common procedure. You may experience some symptoms after getting your filling. The following are things to anticipate after your dental filling appointment.

Pain in the neighboring teeth

Studies reveal that the teeth beside the treated tooth may hurt after a dental filling treatment. This type of pain is normal. It does not mean that the other teeth suffered from any degree of damage during the treatment. Research shows that the treated tooth is merely signaling the other teeth. The discomfort will go down within a week or two.

Pain in the treated tooth

The general dentist may see the patient again after the dental filling treatment because of pain in the tooth. This discomfort may result from a high or elevated filling placement. The dentist may have placed the filling correctly the first time, but the patient may have noticed some changes afterward. These changes may start once the patient begins to chew or speak. Reshaping or smoothing the filling is necessary to end the pain. Doing so will also prevent the dental filling crack.

Dental sensitivity

Many people experience temperature sensitivity in the tooth that received a dental filling. This reaction may last for up to three weeks after the treatment. Sensitivity may increase when the patient uses the treated tooth for biting or chewing. The general dentist will recommend using toothpaste for sensitive teeth. Avoiding cold or hot drinks and foods after treatment can help prevent sensitivity. The patient must see the dentist right away if the sensitivity lasts for more than a couple of weeks.

Sharp edges of the dental filling

A general dentist may use a local anesthetic before applying a dental filling in a deeper cavity. The anesthetic wears off hours after the treatment. When this happens, the patient may begin to feel sharp edges or unevenness in the filling. The dentist needs to grind down and smoothen the dental filling to relieve the discomfort.

Severe tooth pain

Patients may also experience constant or throbbing pain after getting a dental filling. The patient must schedule another visit with the general dentist. Checking the inner structure of the tooth is necessary at this point. The pain may be a sign of a much deeper infection. Scheduling a root canal will likely follow if the infection has reached the pulp.

Eating after getting a filling

Eating after a dental filling will depend on the type of material the general dentist uses. A patient who received a composite resin filling can eat right away. Curing light will harden this filling instantly. Metal fillings will not harden right away, so the dentist will recommend waiting for at least a day before eating. The patient must wait until the anesthetic wears off before eating anything. Doing so will prevent injuries to the lips, cheek, and tongue.