Aftercare for a Dental Filling

When your dentist finishes installing your dental filling, the anesthesia will still be working even by the time you arrive home. Your dentist knows that you will feel the discomfort kicking in eventually. With proper aftercare, you can recover from your dental filling procedure without issue. You can also find out if you need to see your dentist again to relieve your pain. If you want to know how to care for your filling the right way, below are some tips to consider.

Waiting for the effects of anesthesia to fade

Dentists use local anesthesia to apply dental fillings. A small hypodermic needle helps administer it. Patients experience the effects of the anesthesia for about two to four hours. While the patient still feels the effects of the anesthesia, the patient should observe better oral care.

Chewing should stop for a while. The mouth stays numb because of the anesthesia. One cannot feel anything at all that touches the inner part of the mouth. The patient should not eat until the feeling in the mouth comes back. If there is a need to at least drink something, hot drinks should not be on the list. Scalding the mouth is possible at this time.

There may be some pain in the jaw or gums as the anesthesia wears off. This may happen due to some gum irritation caused by the injection of anesthesia. If the patient is a child, adults should monitor the child carefully. The child might bite on the soft tissues inside the mouth and cause injury. On the other hand, older patients should chew carefully as the anesthesia wears off. If there is some discomfort, taking paracetamol can help relieve it.

Pain in the neighboring teeth

There might be some pain in the neighboring teeth of the tooth that had a dental filling procedure. The patient should not worry if this happens. There is nothing wrong with the patient’s teeth at all. It is a normal effect of the treatment. The pain will reduce in about two weeks. If the patient cannot tolerate the pain, over-the-counter pain relievers can help.

Obstructive filling

A common cause for tooth pain after the dental filling is that the dental filling may be too high. If the patient feels that the tooth is obstructive during chewing and speaking, the patient should see the dentist again. The dental filling may need some reshaping or filing down. This matter is important because if the filling is not set correctly, it has a high risk of cracking.

Lingering tooth pain

If there is constant, lingering, sharp pain, tooth decay may have reached the pulp of the tooth already before the filling was applied. The throbbing pain is usually alarming. An appointment with the dentist will confirm that there is an infection in the pulp. Taking pain relievers may help. If there is an infection in the pulp, a root canal is the primary treatment for it.

The right aftercare following your dental filling can ensure good results

A dental filling procedure can improve your oral health. It can enhance your comfort while you speak or chew. After getting your dental filling, you should monitor the way you feel with the newly placed filling. It should not be bulgy, rough, or uneven. Instead, it should be level and not cause the mouth to feel awkward. The healthiest form of aftercare after getting your dental implants is to stay in constant communication with your dentist.

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