Your tooth has undergone an oral operation, and you must wait, as any other part of the body must wait before it heals. But of course, it is natural to be concerned. You were at the dentist to have a problem solved, and not to make another. Being able to know what is going on in your mouth can help decrease that anxiety and to know when all should be healing as it is, versus when you may even need to call in and have a follow-up visit.
All you need to know about post-filling sensitivity, in simple terms, is to walk through it. If you just have a dental filling in McKinney, TX, or you intend to do it in the near future, this guide will make you see what you should expect.
Tooth Sensitivity after a Filling: Is it normal or not?
Yes, the sensitivity of teeth after filling is quite normal. As a matter of fact, the majority of patients complain of discomfort after the procedure.
Consider it in such a way that the dentist cleaning your tooth established the space with a new material and took the decay out of your tooth. Your tooth should be allowed to heal and adapt to such a change. This is because it has upset the nerve within your tooth, though dentists are very careful when they are working.
You may be sensitive to hot or cold food and beverages, experience slight pain on chewing food, or have a minor ache in the area of the tooth that is filled. These are typical responses. In LiT Dental, McKinney, TX, the licensed practitioners in the field of dentistry explain post-treatment expectations to the patients prior to them leaving the office to ensure they know what is normal for others. Having fillings has also been done on thousands of patients, and most of them have a mild case of temporary sensitivity, which goes away on its own in days to weeks.
What is the time frame of post-fill-sensitivity?
The filling-related tooth sensitivity after 2 weeks improves. There are cases of patients getting back to normal within a few days, and still others may have some slight sensitivity up to one month.
The tooth sensitivity in tooth after filling, 2 weeks, continues to fall within the normal range, particularly when the cavity was deep or was in the tooth nerve. Big fillings also tend to be more sensitive compared to small fillings since a larger amount of tooth structure has been involved.
It is during this healing process that your tooth is adapting to this new filling substance and reprocessing the surgery. The nerve within becomes calm. The sensitivity in the tooth after filing should, however, improve with time, not deteriorate. When you find that you are getting better every day, then that is good. LiT Dental offers dental practitioners who will follow up on proper aftercare and offer their patients the opportunity to ask questions throughout the recovery process, who will feel secure about their healing process.
Why Does a Dental Filling Cause Sensitivity?
There are a number of causes of post-filling sensitivity. These can help you know what is happening:
The connection between drills and cleaning the cavity provokes nerve irritation in the tooth temporarily. Giving the nerve time to relax is required after it has been stimulated.
- Inflammation: Minor inflammation occurs in the tooth pulp, which is the soft tissue of your tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels. This inflammation induces sensitivity.
- High filling: As a new filling, sometimes it appears higher than your other teeth. This puts an unnecessary strain on the biting, thus causing discomfort. This can be easily manipulated by your dentist.
- Temperature changes: The filling substance does not expand or contract with temperature like your natural tooth, and this means that you will be sensitive to both hot and cold at first.
- Deep cavity: Sensitivity is more probable and potentially prolonged in case the nerve is localized close to the symptomatic site of decay.
- Alternatives to filling materials: Sometimes composite fillings (tooth-colored fillings) are very much more sensitive on their initial application, due to the mechanism of their bonding, which is described in some way.
When Sensitivity Post-Filling, Is This an Indication of a Problem?
Although the sensitivity is normal in most cases, some symptoms suggest that you need to visit a dental professional in order to have it checked:
- When someone asks themselves why does my tooth filling hurts after months, then that is not so. The fact that the sensitivity lasts more than four weeks, six weeks, or even months since you had your filling indicates that something is amiss.
- Severe pain and not mild sensitivity are issues of concern. The pain, which becomes progressively increased and not reduced with time, should be evaluated professionally.
- When the area around the tooth or gums swells, this is an indication of possible infection. Unable to chew properly or having pain that lasts all the time is not something to overlook.
There are cases when a filling needs to be changed or the area of decay is more prominent and will need further treatment in the form of a crown or a root canal. In some instances, there is cracking of the tooth or even a problem with the filling. These are solvable issues, which require expert evaluation. At LiT Dental, the advanced staff ensures comprehensive follow-up treatment for clients with unresolved symptoms.
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Conclusion
Dental professionals would be glad to give you peace of mind and advice, even though your level of sensitivity is within the normal range. Make a follow-up appointment in case of continued pain for up to two weeks without improvement, if the pain gets progressively worse instead of getting better, or if you have any issues regarding your healing course. It is better to check it and find out everything is alright rather than being nervous. Tooth sensitivity following your filling? Visit Dental in McKinney, TX now. The caring group will assess your case, offer career guidance, and see that your tooth cleans up. Quality dental care refers to offering assistance in all the processes of dental treatment and recovery.