Tooth pain after filling a cavity can be caused by tooth sensitivity, improper fitting of the filling, allergies to filling material, or continued decay. The pain can be lessened over time, but if it persists or worsens, the dentist should be consulted. In severe cases, a root canal may be necessary.
Several situations can cause tooth pain after filling a cavity, some more severe than others. The most common includes tooth sensitivity, which typically doesn’t require the attention of a dentist unless it persists and gets worse. Other problems with simple solutions include a filling that doesn’t fit properly, is exposed to another type of filling material, or is made from a material that the patient is allergic to. In these situations, your dentist can repair or replace your filling. If tooth pain occurs from continued decay, however, your dentist might try to remove residual decay or perform a root canal.
A patient can expect a certain amount of pain after receiving a filling. Typically, this pain is more like tooth sensitivity than severe dental pain. The tooth may become sensitive to hot and cold temperatures, or the patient may feel tenderness when she speaks or bites. Also, dental work on a tooth with decay can further irritate the tooth and cause sensitivity. Usually, this pain will lessen over time, but if it doesn’t lessen or gets worse, the patient should see his or her dentist again.
If the patient experiences tooth pain when biting or chewing on more serious food, it could mean that the new filling is not fitting properly. It could also mean that the patient has a cracked filling. Sometimes, a patient will experience sharp pain when she bites and the new filling touches another dental filling. If the patient experiences any of these types of pain, the solution may be as simple as adjusting the shape of the filling or smoothing the edges. In some situations, however, your dentist may need to replace your filling.
Allergies to the material used are another reason to experience tooth pain after getting a filling. The most common dental filling materials used are porcelain; gold; a silver mixture consisting of silver, mercury, zinc, tin and copper; and composite resin, which is tooth-colored plastic and glass materials. To determine if allergies are causing the tooth pain, the patient can talk to his dentist about the filling material used. If he has an allergy, the dentist can replace the dental filling and the patient can avoid the material in the future.
Perhaps one of the most pressing causes of tooth pain after filling a cavity is residual decay or an infection. A dentist removes decay before filling a tooth, but sometimes some decay is left behind. There are also times when the caries is too close to the pulp of the tooth. When any of these situations occur, the decay can continue to spread under the filling and cause injury to the tooth or even an infection. Depending on the level of decay and proximity to the pulp, your dentist may be able to correct the problem or you may need to perform a root canal and remove the tooth nerve.
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