Sensitive teeth after dental filling - Dana Dental

Sensitive Teeth After Dental Filling: Is It Normal?

by | Sep 4, 2020 | General Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry

One of the most common teeth problems is tooth decay. This is a prevalent issue because patients quickly get broken teeth as mostly rely on teeth brushing alone. There are proper techniques for maintaining your teeth, and one of that is to regularly visit your dentist. Failing to have regular dental check-ups lessens your chance to have optimal oral health. If there is a progressing cavity in your teeth, your dentist may treat it with a dental filling.  

What is a dental filling?

Tooth fillings are a type of dental restoration that aims to treat broken teeth from a deep cavity or trauma. The process entails simple steps that are minimally-invasive and not painful. However, if the dentist needs to remove the visible effects of decay, the treatment could be uncomfortable. That’s why the dentist will give local anesthetics to the patient and numb the affected tooth’s surrounding area before the procedure. 

Using a composite filling material, the dentist will cover the tooth’s holes or breaks and seal them. This provides protection and restoring strength to the tooth. Also, the tooth improves its looks and makes the patient’s smile more pleasing. If the patient can perform excellent oral hygiene and often see their dentist, the filling can last up to ten years.  

Tooth sensitivity after a dental filling

Causes 

  • Inflammation or infection.

During removal of the decay, the dentist uses a hand drill that releases vibration and heat. Though rare, it could cause inflammation to the tooth pulp, a part of the tooth found in the roots containing the nerves and tissues. This is the reason why you feel sensitivity to your teeth after the filling. If the pulp is unable to heal, you might need root canal therapy.

  • Ill-fitting filling.

Sometimes, the dentist misses polishing the filling properly. This results in an uneven finish that could cause pain when the patient closes their mouth. That’s because the protruding or crooked tooth might push the opposite tooth in as the patient chews or speaks. If this happens to you, return to your dentist for immediate correction.   

  • Pain surrounding the affected tooth

Other than the affected tooth itself, you could also feel pain in its surrounding areas. Experts call this referred pain. It is considered normal and could go away on its own. If it’s not manageable, the dentist will prescribe you a pain relief medication. 

  • Allergic reaction.

The sensitivity that you feel may be an allergic reaction to the filling material used on your tooth. You might also notice associating itchiness or rash on the surrounding gums. The best thing to do is to return to your dentist so they could remove it and redo the procedure with a more suitable filling material.

  • Tooth sensitivity.

Even if the tooth root isn’t affected, the tooth with new fillings will still be sensitive due to the procedure. A few days after your treatment, you will feel sudden pain when eating cold or hot foods. This is a usual scenario after getting tooth fillings but is manageable with pain relievers. Just make sure you communicate this with your dentist so they may give you proper prescriptions. 

Remedy

To relieve tooth pain after a filling, you have to consult your dentist about it. Sometimes, if you try to remedy it yourself, chances are the causes of the pain are much more severe. In the end, you’ll only be making things worse. 

Nevertheless, there are safe techniques that you can or apply to avoid teeth sensitivity. 

  1. Don’t eat or drink hot or cold foods. These kinds of foods, including ice cream and soup, trigger sensitive teeth. Follow this advice until your new tooth filling has completely healed. 
  2. Use toothpaste for sensitive teeth. There are toothpaste brands that are designed for sensitive teeth. Its component helps to protect your teeth from such triggers and, at the same time, relieve you from tooth pain. Consult your dentist about what toothpaste brand suits you best.
  3. Take pain-relievers. Typically, dentists will prescribe your medications to help when the pain sets in after the tooth filling. If your dentist does not make you one, you can ask them if you will experience tooth sensitivity.  

Some post-treatment side effects are common; however, you don’t have to endure them. You can always talk to your Aurora dentist so they can help you manage those dental issues.

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