Sensitive Teeth Following a Filling

Dental fillings are commonly used to treat or manage cavities that, on their own, are painful. During filling, the dental technologist or dentist uses composite or amalgam to fill the holes formed. However, as much as this procedure is simple and essential, most people have sensitive teeth.. Most times, the sensitivity fades away on its own after a few days or weeks, but it may persist for longer in isolated cases. If you have ever suffered teeth sensitivity after filling, then these might be the reasons.

Pulpitis

During cavity filling, the dentist first has to extract the decayed part with a heat releasing drill  before he or she can start filling up the cavity. In some instances, the heat from the drill might inflame the pulp, the teeth’s connective tissue, thus causing pulpitis and sensitivity. There are two types of pulpitis:

• Reversible pulpitis – In this type of pulpitis, the teeth are sensitive but the annellation caused to the pulp is reversible, which means the pulp heals by itself over time.
• Irreversible pulpitis – This is permanent damage to the pulp, and a dentist needs to do a root canal treatment for the sensitivity and pain to stop.

Suppose the dentist does not remove the decayed part before filling. In that case, it causes infection to the pulp, resulting in insensitivity and a series of other dental problems such as swelling gums and accumulation of pus in the gum.

Allergic Reaction

In some instances, the sensitivity suffered after filling may be a result of an allergic reaction to the filling material. This is not as common, but it’s not an impossibility either. In addition to teeth sensitivity, you might develop an itch or a rash around the filled tooth. In such an  event, it is only wise that you inform your dentist to redo the filling with a different kind of filler.

Irregular Teeth Surfaces

In some instances, filling cavities causes the affected tooth to be taller than the rest of the teeth. If this happens, there can be tooth sensitivity or pain since there is a bite change. The longer tooth endures extra pressure when biting, which makes biting a dreadful task. The longer tooth could also break when biting and worsen the situation. Make sure to contact your dentist if you suffer any of these consequences of cavity filling.

At River Valley Smile Center, we offer professional tooth filling services with state-of-the-art equipment to ease and quicken the procedure. Do not hesitate to call us on 479-646-0706 or reach out to us on Facebook to schedule an appointment.