When you go to the dentist, you naturally want to get quality care so that your tooth will no longer bother you. However, there are cases when a tooth hurts after a filling. In this article, we will tell you in detail why this happens and what to do in such a situation.
After treatment of a tooth, you may experience a slight, short-term pain - a normal reaction of the body to the intervention. But if the discomfort lasts for a long time, you should see a doctor.
A tooth can hurt in two cases:
- after treatment of caries and placement of a permanent filling
- After treatment, filling of root canals and placement of a permanent or temporary filling
Why a tooth hurts under a filling after a cavity treatment
- Deep decay of the tooth. When the cavity is large and close to the pulp, there is discomfort after the filling. But they usually go away within 2 weeks. However, if the tooth is hurting more and more and is keeping you awake, it means that the infection has penetrated deep inside and has reached the nerve. In this case, you still have to remove the nerve and treat the root canals.
- Saliva intrusion. A cofferdam should always be used when treating a tooth. This is a special latex plate that protects the tooth from moisture. If the tooth is not insulated, saliva can get in during the filling process, which then leads to pain.
- An overbite filling. If a filled tooth hurts when you bite down and you constantly experience discomfort, the filling may be too high. The fact is that dental caries treatment is done under anesthesia and because of this it is difficult to determine the exact height of the filling. It is difficult to tell whether it is in the way or not, because there is a strong numbness in the mouth. Therefore, if you have discomfort after the filling, or it seems that the filling is too high, it is worth coming to the clinic again. The doctor will carefully resurface it, and you will be able to eat comfortably.
What to do if the tooth under the filling hurts
Do not put off going to the doctor so that it does not lead to serious consequences.
First, the dentist carefully examines the tooth, identifies the problem, and evaluates the location of the canals. Then he will carefully remove the diseased tissues, wash the canals with antiseptic, and then hermetically fill them with the material. Afterwards, he will take a control picture to see if there are any voids in the root canals. Only then will the doctor restore the tooth to its original shape with a quality filling material.
