If you have recently had a dental filling procedure done, and are experiencing unusual tooth sensitivity, rest assured that this is quite common. Normally it will resolve itself within a few weeks. You may mostly notice temporary pain whenever you eat or drink hot/cold foods or beverages, or even when you breathe in cold air. It may also temporarily hurt when you bite down on the filled tooth.
If the tooth sensitivity seems intolerable and hurts longer than a few weeks, please let our office know. There are things we can do to help you during this adjustment period. We can apply a desensitizing material to the tooth, or recommend a desensitizing toothpaste for you to use until the tooth adjusts.
If the decay in the filled tooth was close to the tooth pulp, and the surrounding tissue is too unhealthy, it might necessitate a root canal treatment to remove the decayed tissue. And if the tooth hurts when you bite down on it, it may be that we just need to reshape the filling material so that it fits correctly with the bite.
Another possibility for tooth sensitivity involves metals. If for example, your gold crown initially touches a silver amalgam filling, this may cause temporary pain until your teeth adjust. Neighboring teeth may also feel pain for about a week or two after the procedure if the newly filled tooth sends out pain signals which your nearby teeth pick up on. This will get better relatively quickly.
So if you are experiencing tooth sensitivity following a dental filling procedure, take heart. It is most likely that this sensitivity will resolve itself fairly early on. If not, or if you have any concerns for Dr. Ron Hernandez, you can reach our caring dental team in Fremont, California at 510-248-4847.