Did you get a dental filling? Or perhaps you are planning to have one? If you happen to develop a cavity on your tooth, your dentist will recommend you to undergo a dental filling treatment. A dental filling is the safest and most effective option to avoid the progression of concerns such as tooth pain and decay. Often, some patients experience tooth sensitivity after filling. These effects are usual and will naturally resolve in a span of a few days. However, you must visit a dentist right away if the tooth pain persists or several symptoms occur, such as redness, fever, and swelling.
Get to know what to expect after your treatment and when you should see a dentist. Read further to learn more.
Dental Filling: An Overview
When having a dental filling, your dentist will clean away any present signs of decay from your tooth. Like in a root canal treatment, your dentist will scrape off plaque and cavities in your tooth. Many use dental drills to ease the cleaning process, followed by filling the space with new material. You can choose among several filling agents such as composite, porcelain, silver amalgam, or gold.
Expectations After Treatment
Several hours after your treatment, you can expect to have a numbing sensation with a touch of itchiness and puffiness. You may also experience some difficulty moving your face, limiting your capacity to talk, eat, and swallow.
Once the numbing agent begins to wear off, you can slowly feel your facial muscle regain its function. However, you must expect that there will be an adjustment period in the following days. During this time, you may notice new sensations that are different from what you usually feel. The most common occurrences are tooth pain and sensitivity in the filled tooth or around the dental filling area.
Sensitivity After Dental Filling
Tooth pain and sensitivity happen typically in many dental procedures, including root canal treatments, dental implants, and tooth fillings. A person who is experiencing sensitivity will immediately notice specific triggers. These triggers cause uncomfortable sensations along the area where the treatment took place or anywhere nearby.
Here are some factors that may cause tooth sensitivity:
- Too hot and too cold foods and beverages.
- Air pressure that hits the sensitive tooth.
- Sweet and sugary foods.
- Acidic beverages.
- Biting down and chewing solid foods.
Common Causes of Tooth Sensitivity After Filling
Tooth sensitivity after filling happens typically and would only last temporarily. But in some instances, these sensations can mean that there are underlying causes that need repair. Below are some possible reasons why sensitivity happens and how to identify the need to seek an emergency dental treatment.
You may have an irritated nerve
Short-term tooth pain after a filling treatment occurs because the procedure might have caused inflammation of nerves inside your tooth. Like in a root canal treatment, dental fillings can become too deep and reach the nerve endings. When this happens, the patient may feel uncomfortable. This sensation will persist until the nerve heals fully. However, healing these nerve endings may take some time to recover.
You have an improper bite alignment
In some cases, your dentist might incorrectly place the dental filling, causing misalignments on your bite. An incorrect bite is often due to a tooth filling that is too tall than your standard teeth height. When this happens, the tooth filling causes pressure which becomes a precursor of sensitivity.
While it is normal to experience slight sensitivity during the adjustment period, you might be having an incorrect bite if the pain will not fade within a few weeks.
You might have Pulpitis
Pulpitis is an inflammation of the pulp of the tooth. It causes tooth sensitivity and pain that does not regularly occur in minor fillings. Pulpitis can happen if there is a deep cavity that reaches within the inner pulp layer and if the patient has undergone several filling procedures.
You might be experiencing gum disease
Periodontal disease is one of the leading causes of tooth sensitivity. Although dental fillings can help resolve cavities and dental decay, your dentist might not notice the occurrence of an underlying gum problem. It would be best to regularly check with your dentist for early signs of gum disease.
Treatment Options for Sensitive Teeth
Desensitising toothpaste
If you happen to experience post-filling sensitivity, your dentist may recommend you to try a desensitising toothpaste. These are special toothpaste containing potassium nitrate and help ease the sensitivity along the tooth surface and nerve endings. Although it is not a quick solution for pain sensitivity, these kinds of toothpaste can still help relieve symptoms after several days of use.
Over-the-counter pain medications
Your dental provider may suggest you have over-the-counter medicines for instant pain and sensitivity relief. However, these are only necessary to use for those who experience unbearable pain.
Numbing agents
If you are still experiencing sensitivity after your dental filling, your dentist may also suggest applying topical ointments. These help numb the area and minimise the pain sensation from your dental filling.
Good oral hygiene
Brushing twice daily and flossing once a day can bring your oral health more benefits than you can imagine. Taking care of your teeth allows you to eliminate the unnecessary bacteria that can build up between your gums.
When to Call an Emergency Dentist
If your tooth sensitivity does not improve several days following your dental filling treatment, talk to a dentist as soon as possible. It is essential to have a dental professional check your current condition and rule out potential tooth sensitivity causes.
Immediate care and attention are necessary for severe cases of tooth sensitivity after filling. If you happen to experience intense tooth pain in the wee hours of the night, you can call our Emergency Dentist in Adelaide. We believe that any dental emergency is not something you should ignore. Delaying your treatment can cause severe damages and can lead to worsening your condition.