At Park Place Dentistry, we perform fillings for patients who need them. Bacteria in your mouth that causes plaque can lead to tooth decay and cavities, but a filling removes the bacteria and adds a tooth-like material to fill the hole. While this is a great way to prevent a more serious removal of the tooth, tooth pain after filling it is common.
While there are several ways to minimize the pain you experience after a filling, you should pay attention to the level of sensitivity and pain that you feel. If the pain does not subside within two to four weeks, or suddenly gets worse, contact our office so that we can help you.
Causes of pain after filling
After a filling, your tooth might be sensitive to certain foods, like those that are overly sweet. It might also be sensitive to hot and cold temperatures, pressure, and air.
Your tooth pain after filling can also be caused by two teeth touching each other – the two different surfaces touching can be painful. You can also experience pain when biting after your anesthesia wears off. It’s also possible to experience referred pain, which is pain in teeth that did not receive a filling. This is caused by pain signals being sent to other teeth.
Regardless of what is causing pain in a tooth that has been filled, you can typically expect the pain to go away in one to two weeks. You should contact your dentist if the sensitivity does not subside at all within two to four weeks, or if you find the pain only getting worse and not improving at all. Your Park Place Dentistry professional can give you some tips to reduce the pain that you are experiencing in order to make your recovery time more comfortable.
How can I minimize my tooth pain?
Although tooth pain after a filling will typically resolve itself in a matter of days, you may want to find ways to minimize your discomfort in the meantime. The best method to minimize your pain is to avoid things that can cause sensitivity. For example, you can avoid sweet foods or drinking very hot or cold drinks. In some cases, an over-the-counter pain reliever may be helpful.
If your tooth pain or sensitivity isn’t better after a few weeks, talk to your dentist. She may recommend a desensitizing toothpaste that will help, or even take note of your sensitivity and use the information to adjust your filling procedures in the future, if necessary. It’s important to explain the pain you are experiencing to your dentist in detail, including which activities make the pain worse, so that she can help you most effectively.
What if my tooth pain is caused by an allergic reaction?
It’s possible, but rare, to experience an allergic reaction to a tooth filling. In fact, the American Dental Association states that fewer than 100 cases of allergic reactions to fillings have ever been reported. If you are experiencing an allergic reaction, you will likely have symptoms such as itching and skin rashes outside of pain. However, if you are experiencing tooth pain after a filling and suspect that it is because you are allergic or sensitive to the material used, contact our office immediately. We can evaluate your symptoms and determine whether or not your filling needs to be adjusted or changed. In most cases, though, the pain is caused by something else and will go away within a couple of weeks.
If you are experiencing tooth pain after a filling, be sure to contact our office today so that we can help you experience relief quickly.
At Park Place Dentistry, our staff also works with patients who are in need of dental treatments like sealants, root canals, porcelain veneers, and more. The center places a focus on preventative dentistry, like regular cleanings and x-rays, in order to help prevent dental issues in the future. Additionally, Park Place Dentistry fits patients for Invisalign, a modern approach to orthodontics that utilizes invisible braces instead of bulky, noticeable metal braces.
Regardless of the type of dental issue that you are having, you can schedule a consultation at any time. Dr. Masi Hashemian sees patients ranging from young children to adults.