Dental fillings are used to treat cavities, and it is one of the most common procedures routinely performed in every dental office. If you are due for your first dental filling, you might be wondering: Will your teeth hurt after fillings? In this article, we discuss what kind of sensations you can expect during and after the procedure.
Will Your Teeth Hurt After Fillings?
If your dental filling is done correctly, your tooth should not hurt after the procedure. You might experience slight sensitivity or soreness of the gum around the treated tooth due to the anesthetic injection. However, typically, the discomfort does not last longer than several hours.
Additionally, your new dental filling can feel slightly unnatural when you bite down on it for a day or two. This can happen because the infected tooth can become slightly lower than the level of the rest of your teeth. This occurs over time, so you do not notice it. When the tooth is treated with a dental filling, your dentist will also restore its natural level. As a result, you may notice the difference until you become accustomed to the filling.
However, if the filling remains uncomfortable or feels unnatural for longer than a couple of days, schedule a follow-up appointment with your dentist to adjust the height of your filling, ensuring it does not affect your bite.
If you feel significant soreness or pain in the tooth after the treatments, it might signify that the infection remains in the tooth, or it was not sealed correctly, allowing access to bacteria and food particles. In such cases, we recommend contacting your dentist as soon as possible to prevent the spread of infection.
Will You Feel Pain During the Procedure of Dental Fillings?
Modern dental techniques and medications make the procedure of dental fillings pain-free and comfortable. The procedure is always performed under a local anesthetic, which is effective enough to block any pain, even when the tooth is being pulled out, let alone during a dental filling procedure.
You might experience a slight stinging or pinching sensation when the anesthetic is being administered via injection. However, the injection lasts only a couple of seconds, and the numbing effect starts almost immediately after. Within a few minutes, the procedure area will be completely numb.
Additionally, you can opt for one of the sedation options. Sedation can be offered to patients in the following cases:
- Severe dental anxiety
- Difficulty remaining in one position for an extended period
- High tolerance to local anesthetics
- For patients with special needs
If you have any of the concerns listed above, do not hesitate to ask your dentist about sedation options during the consultation.
How to Take Care of Your Tooth After a Dental Filling Procedure
We recommend following these simple rules to avoid complications after a dental filling procedure:
- Wait for the numbness to go away completely before having a meal. This way, you will avoid accidentally biting yourself or applying too much pressure to the treated tooth.
- Opt for soft foods and avoid very hot or cold, sugary, and acidic foods and drinks until the sensitivity goes away.
- Brush and floss your teeth thoroughly, but be cautious when cleaning the area around the procedure site.
- Try a calming and anti-inflammatory rinsing solution (for example, one with camomile) if you experience gum sensitivity or soreness.
Get Pain-free Dental Fillings at Valley Alder
Schedule an appointment with a reliable dentist at Valley Alder today. We strive to make any procedure as comfortable and pain-free for our patients as possible. Our specialists are looking forward to your visit.
