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dentist using dental tool to check tooth sensitivity after filling
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A dental filling is the most common dental treatment to get rid of cavities or decayed teeth. During this, the damaged or decayed tooth is filled with a durable material molded to protect your teeth from further infections. Experiencing tooth sensitivity or soreness after a dental filling is completely normal, especially after undergoing a deep filling. The numbness and pain should subside a few hours after leaving the dental clinic. However, if that doesn’t happen, it’s time to visit the dentist again!

Is Tooth Sensitivity After Dental Filling Normal?

Yes, tooth sensitivity after a dental filling is normal and commonly experienced by many patients. During the filling process, the tooth is drilled and cleaned, which can temporarily irritate the inner layers of the tooth and the nerve. This often leads to sensitivity when eating or drinking hot, cold, sweet, or acidic foods, especially in the first few days after treatment.

In most cases, this sensitivity gradually fades as the tooth heals and adjusts to the filling. Mild discomfort can last for a few days or up to a couple of weeks, depending on the depth of the cavity and the type of filling used. However, if the sensitivity becomes severe, lasts longer than expected, or causes sharp pain when biting, it’s best to consult your dentist for further evaluation.

What is the Cause of Tooth Sensitivity After a Dental Filling?

Some sensitivity and pain post-filling are common, but if it continues for an extended period, there may be an underlying cause that needs treatment. Here are all the possible reasons why your teeth feel sore or sensitive after filling:

  1. Pulpitis

    In pulpitis, the pulp of your tooth becomes inflamed, leading to pain and discomfort. This happens because a drill is used during filling to remove the decaying part of your teeth. The drill uses heat, due to which, in rare cases, the pulp of your teeth is inflamed, leading to pulpitis.

    Pulpitis can increase if the decayed tooth is not correctly filled. In this situation, you’ll see swelling in your gums or a pocket of pus around your affected teeth.

    There are two types of pulpitis:

    • Reversible: Here, the tooth is sensitive, but the pulp gets better
    • Irreversible: The pulp is untreatable, and your tooth will require a root canal treatment

  2. Incorrect Bite Alignment

    It’s important for the tooth filling to align with your existing teeth properly. After filling, there’s sensitivity for a while when biting down. However, it goes away within a few weeks. But when the filling is taller than the teeth, extra pressure is required to bite down, which causes pain, increasing sensitivity after filling.

    If the difficulty in chewing continues for long, or if you have persistent sensitivity, consult your dentist. This incorrect bite alignment can be solved by smoothing the filling.

  3. Multiple Tooth Surfaces

    Multiple tooth surfaces can also cause sensitivity in your teeth after filling. This can happen when you choose two different types of fillings in your teeth. For example, you might get a weird sensation when your gold filling on the top teeth comes in contact with the silver filling on the bottom.

  4. Referred Pain

    When there’s pain in the surrounding area of the affected tooth, it is known as referred pain. This is common after dental filling and can cause tooth sensitivity.

  5. Allergic Reaction

    Many people are allergic to the material used in dental filling. If you find itching or a rash in the nearby area of the filling, contact the dentist as soon as possible. They can detect the reason behind the allergy and even get your filling replaced.

  6. Irritated Nerve

    Dental fillings cause nerve irritation because the procedure triggers inflammation in the tooth’s nerve. The enamel, the outer layer of teeth, usually saves the inner nerves from this trauma; however, deep fillings get in close contact with the nerves and are the reason behind increased sensitivity and irritation in the affected tooth.

    This irritated nerve will go away in a few days or weeks once it heals, and when it gets better, you won’t feel the difference between filled and other teeth.

How to Take Care of Sensitivity After a Dental Filling?

Getting your cavities filled up is easy and painless. However, what you have to take care of is the aftermath. Whether it’s a short-term sore tooth or a prolonged teeth sensitivity, you must take proper oral care to curb the soreness.

Here are some ways to take care of sore teeth post filling that can help in reducing the pain and soreness of teeth:

  1. Brush gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush
  2. Use a toothpaste meant for sensitive teeth
  3. Don’t eat or drink hot or cold foods since that could trigger the sensitivity
  4. Avoid sugary and acidic drinks or foods
  5. Try to chew from the opposite side of the dental filling
  6. Over-the-counter medications can help

How Long Tooth Sensitivity After Dental Filling Lasts?

The tooth pain, sensitivity, and soreness shouldn’t last more than two to four weeks post-filling the cavities. If there’s no improvement in your condition, consider visiting a dentist immediately.

If you’re searching for a renowned dentist for white teeth filling in Salem, MA, book an appointment today!

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