Pain After Dental Fillings

Tooth fillings are among the most common restorative dental procedures that patients undergo. Because of this, many patients have had a filling placed at some point during their lives. Whether you have had a filling placed but it’s been a long time since your last filling, or you’ve never had a filling placed, you may not know what to expect. You also may not know what fillings are. Below is information on what dental fillings are, common reasons for the placement of fillings and why you may be experiencing pain after a filling is placed.

What Tooth Fillings Are

When a tooth has been damaged (either due to injury or tooth decay), the tooth needs to be repaired. A very popular option for repair is a dental filling. Tooth fillings are dental prosthetics that replace a portion of a tooth that has been worn away by decay, or has been damaged due to some form of accident.

Cavities

When people think of tooth fillings, they often connect them with cavities. This is because, once a cavity has been treated, a tooth filling is the option that many dentists will go with for the repair of the damaged tooth. Essentially, cavities are areas of permanent damage due tooth decay. Once the decay has been cleared away by a dentist, the area that the cavity damaged needs to be replaced to restore the integrity of the tooth. In order to restore the tooth, tooth fillings are used.

Pain After a Filling

It is important to understand that, after a filling has been placed, a little discomfort is normal. This may include sensitivity while biting and chewing, as well as sensitivity to hot and cold foods. These issues should go away shortly after the procedure. If the pain continues, there may be an issue with the filling.

Sometimes fillings aren’t properly fitted and are loose. These fillings need to be replaced. A filling also may be cracked—leading to the need for a replacement. Finally, an allergic reaction to the materials may occur. If this is the case, another filling material may be used to resolve the issue.

Caring for the Pain After a Tooth Filling

For normal pain and discomfort after a tooth filling is placed, over-the-counter pain medicine may help. You may also consider brushing your teeth lighter, or with a softer toothbrush. It is also important to avoid hot and cold foods to reduce sensitivity in the area.

If the pain persists or becomes more extreme than a general discomfort, make sure to contact your dentist as soon as possible. There may be something wrong with the filling. If the filling was placed a while back and is just beginning to cause discomfort, it’s also a good idea to contact your dentist. Your filling may be damaged, which will lead to ongoing pain and an increased risk of disease, decay and infection.

Speak with your dentist about any pain after a tooth filling, and how to resolve the issue.

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