How do fillings affect my teeth?

If you need a filling, it means your teeth have developed areas of decay due to an accident or poor cleaning habits, the affected area begins to deteriorate and the inner workings of the tooth are left at risk of infection. A filling is used to fill the cavities that threaten the pulp chamber and protect the tooth from further damage. Despite the fact fillings are designed to help the teeth, they can have some negative effects, such as toothache.

Dental fillings are a necessary part of repairing decay, but don’t underestimate the trauma that a filling can have on the affected tooth. You might not be feeling a large amount of pain, but drilling and scraping into the centre of the structure will leave its mark in some way, and as the filling material hardens and bonds permanently with the tooth, problems can arise. Make sure you keep a close eye on your teeth during the first few weeks after your filling, if you feel any severe pain that doesn’t seem to be fading, it might be a good idea to go back to your dentist to make sure everything is healing properly.

What are the symptoms of problems after a filling?

Toothache itself is obviously the main symptom of a troublesome filling, but there a different types that point to a variety of issues. It’s also worth remembering that some degree of toothache should be expected after a surgical procedure like this, but it shouldn’t encroach on you day to day habits. A dull ache after a filling is normal; an on-going pain that is still present months after treatment is not.

Sensitivity – This is another symptom that is commonly found in patients who have had a dental filling, the roots and nerves are reacting to the trauma of surgery. Sensitivity shouldn’t be extremely painful, avoiding hot or cold food and drink is usually enough to alleviate it. Fluoride toothpaste that works by closing up nerve endings might help, but generally it’s just a case of dealing with the pain until the tooth is healed.

Pain from the filling – This should be seen by a dentist as soon as possible, it might be that the filling was not properly fitted and there is some root exposure. If too much filler material is used, the tooth will struggle to contain it and might begin to break apart around it. Most of the time, the dentist is required to drill out a larger section of the tooth in order to incorporate the filling, but this doesn’t always happen.

Pain when biting – Another sign that the filling has been incorrectly fitted. A stabbing pain that’s present when you try to bite something or just close your jaws together indicates that the filling has not settled into a proper shape and may be protruding above the level of the crown. This interferes with the way the two sets of teeth join together and causes discomfort. Treatment usually involves reshaping the top of the filling so that it’s a better fit with the opposite molars, or even removing it and starting again if it’s just too big for the hole created.

Pain from small amounts of pressure – If you have metal fillings that are on both the upper and lower molars, you might feel the two materials touching together when you close your mouth. This can be painful for a newly filled tooth, which won’t have hardened to the same degree as the older filling. As the new filling solidifies completely, the pain should disappear, if it doesn’t, return to your dentist.

Sharp toothache – The pain of infection is very different from a healing pain, it throbs from inside the tooth without any outside stimuli, and can be quite debilitating if left untreated. Very severe toothache points to an infection at the nerve centre, indicating that the cavity was not properly cleaned out before the filling was fitted. If the hole is not fully disinfected, the bacteria will start to eat through the mineral layers again.

Allergic reaction to metal – An allergy to metal is very rare, but the amalgam and other components in the filling can occasionally cause a reaction. If you notice a rash or itching around your neck and mouth, it probably means you have suffered an allergic response, you will need to have the metal removed from your teeth and replaced with a composite filling. Very few patients who have amalgam fillings fitted will be allergic to metal.

Referred pain – It’s quite normal to experience some pain or sensitivity in the surrounding teeth. This is just a side effect of the treatment and doesn’t require immediate attention; it should disappear on its own when the filling is completely healed.

How long should I wait before going back to the dentist?

As mentioned above, there’s bound to be a certain amount of sensitivity and discomfort after having a dental filling, but it’s not normal to experience severe, on-going pain afterwards. If the toothache doesn’t subside within a period of two to four weeks, you should contact the surgery and return to make sure there are no adverse effects that need treating. Of course, if you are worried that something is amiss with your filling, you are welcome to return within a few days – it’s better than ignoring what your teeth are trying to tell you. The Pearl Dental Clinic in London can help if you’re concerned with toothache after a filling; give a member of the team a call today. They should be able to help you with aches and pains, and could even repair failed dental treatment that you have received elsewhere.