Tooth sensitivity after dental treatment is very common, but nonetheless irritating. Why would a tooth hurt after it has just been restored? Has something gone wrong? What do I do? These are common questions with simple and complex answers.
Why would a tooth hurt after a filling?
After the completion of a filling, teeth may be hot, cold, or pressure sensitive, which is completely normal and known as pulpitis. Anytime a tooth undergoes the trauma of being drilled and restored, the nerve can become agitated and produce sensitivity that can last for days to weeks. The risk of sensitivity is even greater if the decay in the tooth was deep and close to the nerve. If your tooth is sensitive, give us a call. Your nerve may need greater time to calm down, or the tooth may need to be adjusted.
Has something gone wrong; I’ve been told I may need a root canal?
Nerve pain that produces sensitivity to pressure and temperature is normal after a filling and though many don’t experience discomfort after a filling, others do. Sometimes, when the decay is too close to the nerve, a root canal may be necessary to restore the tooth. This does not indicate that a filling was performed improperly. Think of a filling as step one in restoring a tooth. If a filling is not able to restore a tooth sufficiently, a proceeding root canal and crown placement may be necessary. Fillings are more cost effective than root canals and crowns, and a dentist may attempt to save a tooth with a less invasive and more cost effective filling prior to performing more costly treatment.
My tooth is sensitive; what do I do?
Any time you have sensitivity, call us. We’ll ask you about your sensitivity and make recommendations that may help. Anti-inflammatory medication can be used, when appropriate, to help the nerve calm down, and adjustments on the tooth may help. After a filling is placed, the biting structure of the tooth is changed and further adjustments may be necessary to help alleviate pressure. Pain that keeps you up at night should not be ignored. Sometimes a tooth just needs time to heal. We can walk you through this process.
Heather
Administrative Support
Wendel Family Dental Centre
I had 2 fillings taken out and a decay in so fixed and he said it was close to the nerve. A deep one. Now it has a dull ache to it. Not that bad but borthers me. This has been since Dec. 22. Will it take longer to get rid of or should I call him back soon? It doesn’t hurt when I chew on it. Just bothers when my mouth does move. Any sugestions?
Having a small degree of sensitivity after having fillings done is normal, but from what you are saying you need to make an appointment and get the tooth evaluated. Call us at 360-254-5254.
Hey my name is miranda i had my fillings done along time ago like years ago ever since i got it filled 1 of my tooth has problems it hurts so much no pain meds helped and i even went as far to drink alcohol drinks and it still didn’t help i went to western Heights dentist and they said the person that did my teeth messed them up like overfilled my teeth and idk what to do about it
Have you gone back to the dentist to have your bite adjusted or the treatment fixed. Did the doctor take an x-ray of your tooth? Do you need a root if the pain is that bad?
If you went back to the dentist and they did not fix the problem and just stated it was bad work I would look for another dentist. Do not put up with the pain go back to the dentist and get the problem taken care of even if you need to change dentist.
Thanks WFDC Team
Hi
I had a tooth that had a filling 2 months ago and after that afew days from that i felt pain and shocking pain and got to a point i couldn’t open or talk or even eat so i went back to my dentist told him everything and so he told me i have trigeminal neuralgia and up to today the medication im talking just doesn’t help at all … i feel like i dnt have trigeminal neuralgia its just the tooth thats affected but my dentist just keeps telling me its not the tooth… i have a 3 month baby and i am breastfeeding its afftecting that affecting my mood its affecting everything.. but my dentist doctor has not done any xray on that tooth he just has a look and tells me everything good and sends me off .. can someone help me pls
Hey so i had an extraction of my wisdom tooth and temporary filling of the crown however my filling is sensitive and painful for 3 days now, am on tramadol painkillers and antibiotics bt i still fill pain? What do i do? I have difficulty swallowing saliva nd food too, my filling hurts.
Hello, about two or three years ago I got two fillings and they are both starting to hurt now. The pain is stable and bearable but unexpected at times. I am worried and I’m not quite sure what that means.
I would go see your dentist and see if you have new decay on those teeth or it could be dentin sensitivity and you could try a sensitive toothpaste and see if that helps first.
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I had a filling done yesterday and it feels like pressure on the tooth that got filled is that normal
Yes . It is normal for things to feel different with the anesthetic wearing off and new filling being placed. If you feel like you are hitting that tooth first your bite is off and will need to be adjusted. Contact your dentist if the tooth becomes hot or cold sensitive that doesn’t go away.
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I had a filling done a month ago and I felt no pain after the procedure. Until a week ago, I started to feel an intense throbbing and increased sensitivity to cold and hot foods.The pain goes down jaw line, ear and throat. Do you think the nerve has been compromised?
I would go see your dentist. The symptoms you are having sound like you may need a root canal and crown.
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I couldn’t get a filling done due to the cold air pressure used to Cool the tooth while drilling to remove the decay. My teeth got so painfully cold the dentist couldn’t work on my teeth. What can be done to reduce the sensitivity to hot or cold air?
The tooth they were removing decay on should have had no feeling if it was numb. The other teeth may be feeling the cold. I’m confused as what was going on, you may want to try another dentist to see if they are able to do the work in comfort. If your teeth are generally sensitive to cold you can brush with a sensitive toothpaste.
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Hi I had a 2 fillings on one tooth 3weeks ago. In the early days after the procedure, I did not feel any sensitivity. Just a liitle bit of bearable pain. But all of sudden, my tooth hurts whenever I touch it with my tongue or put a pressure with my finger. The pain now is constant though not severe. The tooth is not sensitive to cold or hot. I do not know what the problem is. I looked through the mirror and I can see cavity inside the tooth. The tooth is lateral incisor. I am worrying as it might require a root canal treatment. Could that be possible that left cavity is the reason? I think it is on the dentin area. Pls give me advise on this. Thank you
Hello, I had a root canal done today and a filling in my front tooth. It’s been a few hours but I can’t bite down on the tooth AT ALL. If it touches anything even my bottom teeth the pain is unbearable. Is this normal? Thank you so much.
That’s is normal.
My I filled my tooth approaching to 3weeks. It hurts day by day… Before after filling I could chew food but now I can’t chew even bread.. when the other tooth touches it, it pains alot… What can I do
If you have not contacted your doctor I would call them you may just need a bite adjustment. If the bite is high think of it a someone punching you in the are 24/7 the ligament are going to be very bruised and sore. If the decay was deep you may need a root canal. In the mean time until you see your dentist I would take some ibuprofen to help with the pain.
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Hi, I have the filling on my premolar tooth number 4 to be exacted on January. I feel the tooth become very sensitive the beginning of April. The pain is stingling. I went to my dentist and he thinks because of the filling is to close to the nerve. He did gave me some toothpaste and adjusted my bite by grinding down the tooth. It was better because of the toothpaste ( I think). Then I stop using it and the pain is back. From what I read so far from this comment section, do I need a root canal ?
I do not think you need a root canal right now. I feel you need to keep using the sensitive toothpaste. If the tooth becomes sensitive to hot & cold and sensitivity does not go away, then you will need a root canal. It a good sign that the toothpaste had helped while using it.
Thank you,
WFDC Team
I just had a deep filling 4 days ago. Last night, my tooth is in pain. My ear and my jaw hurts. What should i do
I’ve just had an emergency filling they said it’s part one as my tooth cracked due to decay the said, it had a hole all the way to the nerve I’m sure she said she was going to take it out, it was filled the injection has worn of and the pain now is excruciating, is this normal if she’s taken out the nerve why is there still pain ?
Hi! I would really need some advice. A year and a half ago i got a filling done. The pain never went away, though i have some days it’s better. The dentist that did the filling originally told me that it would go away and did not bother to try helping me. This last September, i found a new dentist and he couldn’t see any decay on the xray and suspected that the filling was not done properly. However, when we re-did the filling, the pain still was there. Yesterday i went back to the office because i realized i forgot to mention the tiny hole where the majority of the pain stood. ( he didn’t have that done ) He then drilled that area and filled it. Still, i have pain when chewing, especially where the hole area. But not sensitive to hot and cold. Just chewing. I think that’s probably not normal, cause it’s not just senstive. I’m running out of ideas what could be the problem and hate to be returning to the dentist a dozen times. Also i have preety healthy teeth and really am concerned why i have this. Please help!!!
I would ask you new dentist if he placed a base down before filling the cavity. I always have a base placed before every filling for the same problems you are stating. I would give them a call and see if they did place a base if not, I would have the filling redone again. Sorry.
Thanks,
WFDC Team
I had a tooth in the bottom rear filled Monday dentist said it was deep I’m having lots of pain throbbing badly even making my ear hurt I can take room temperature water and old it back there and it stops the pain . I went back to dentist on Friday because of the pain and they adjusted bite and X-ray it but told me it was a deep filling that the nerve took some trauma it may take it longer to calm down and it does quit hurting but it hurts more than it doest and before I had the tooth filled it never hurt me at all why would water calm it down and stop the pain .
I had a deep filling in my wisdom tooth a week ago.i am still getting toothache now and again throughout the day.Will it take time to settle or should I go back to the dentist
If the pain is not constant that is a good sign that things should calm down. You could take some ibuprofen to help with the discomfort. If the pain gets worse and is constant I would call your dentist.
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I got a filling two weeks ago it hurt on the top and bottom and sometimes towards the front the filling was in the very back and it was deep I went back and he adjusted my bite because it was two high it’s been two days and it is still hurting a little less but not much less it is constant and very sensitive to cold
It’s a good sign that your tooth is hurting less, I would give it another week and then see how it’s feeling. With a high bite think of it as some punching you 24/7 you would have a bruise so it’s going to take some time for things to calm down. Keep in contact with your dentist if the sensitive gets worse.
Thanks WFDC Team
It’s a good sign that your tooth is hurting less, I would give it another week and then see how it’s feeling. With a high bite think of it as some punching you 24/7 you would have a bruise so it’s going to take some time for things to calm down. Keep in contact with your dentist if the sensitivity gets worse.
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I had a filling done close to the gum line last week Tuesday. The tooth never bothered me until now. I know my gums are torn up from the filling but the tooth itself has a dull ache to it. My dentist said it was a small cavity yet the filling she placed is huge. It has been a week since the filling was done. Do I call my dentist?
I would call your dentist to let them know you are having sensitivity. Your dentist said the filling was small because it probably was not a deep filling which would be a good sign probably not close to the nerve. You can try rinsing with warm salt water to help the gum tissue and try sensitive toothpaste. Ibuprofen can also help with the discomfort.
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my filling came out old one
dentist out composite on 1hour after this happened, no shot.involved. its day 5 now. pain has lessened. but bite feels off on right side. smalldull pain?
I would call your dentist and have them adjust the bite it sounds like it’s off. I would take some ibuprofen until you can see your doctor.
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Hi, I had a filling done in second upper premolar a few months ago. The tooth became sensitive to heavy pressure and I had discomfort in the inner gum at the tooth too. Upon X-ray I had decay close to the nerve. Dentist removed decay and filled tooth, the filling was fairly large. I was having pressure pain upon heavy pressure weeks later, dentist adjusted filling to remove high spots. While I have no constant pain and can use the tooth to eat/chew , the tooth still doesn’t respond well to pin point heavy pressure, such as eating hard pizza crust. Can you shed any light on what may be the issue please? I’d rather avoid a root canal if not necessary