Fillings

You just had fillings procedure done.

Whether you were put to sleep for this procedure or were only given local anesthesia, the post-operative instructions remain the same. Take caution not to bite or chew on your cheeks, lips and/or tongue for they may be numb for several hours following your appointment. Refrain from chewing until the numbness has completely worn off.

The bite has already been adjusted, however your bite may feel different when the anesthetic wears off. Please give yourself time to get adjusted to the new fillings. If your bite feels “off” please contact your dentist’s office so your bite can be adjusted.

TOOTH SENSITIVITY following placement of a filling is fairly common.

Conditions Around the Fillings that Might Require Additional Treatment:

SENSITIVITY to temperature changes:

A very large restorations with a history of deep carious exposure that is sensitive to hot and/or cold that lingers would indicate that the nerve failed to heal and incurred an irreversible damage that would necessitate root canal treatment.

SENSITIVITY when you bite or bring your back teeth together that cannot be localized or identified which tooth specifically:

This type of sensitivity occurs when you bite down. The pain is noticed and continues over time even after the occlusion (bite) has already been adjusted and had given yourself time to get adjusted to the new fillings. This could be due to clenching and grinding that was agitated after a new restoration was placed (whether a crown or a fill). If the clenching and grinding becomes too intense, more frequent and of longer duration, the sensitivity or discomfort will continue until a mouthguard is used to dampen the extreme biting pressures or traumatic forces. It is possible for the restoration to fail resulting in leakage, recurrent decay, fillings to be dislodged and even fracture a tooth if mouthguard were SKIPPED.

FRACTURE

Inherent in the placement or replacement of any restoration is the possibility of small fracture lines in the tooth structure. Sometimes, these fractures may not be apparent in the x-ray and at the time of removal of the tooth structure and/or the previous filling but may manifest at a later time. If the pain still continues, this may result in the need for additional treatment including but not limited to root canal treatment and crown or even possible extraction.

Although, utmost care and diligence were exercised by your dentist in rendering this treatment, your dentist has no control over these factors.

ORAL HYGIENE

You may brush and floss your teeth as soon as the anesthetic wears off. It is a good idea to use a sensitivity protection toothpaste after fillings are completed. Refrain from using whitening products as they increase the sensitivity. Floss daily to avoid recurrent decay around your fillings.

It is your dentist’s desire that your experience be as smooth and pleasant as possible. Following these instructions will assist you, but if you have concerns and/or questions about your progress, please call your dentist’s office immediately!

We encourage you to speak up if you do not like or understand some aspects of your oral care. You deserve to be heard and your dentist deserves the opportunity to listen. This is what most dentists do, and they will make considerable efforts to accomodate you.

You will be responsible for all costs incurred if you fail to follow these instructions.