Post-filling tooth sensitivity

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Any type of dental treatment is aimed at alleviating the patient’s condition and restoring oral health. Pain after dental treatment is a common problem that every person has encountered at least once. In some cases, pain and discomfort are an inevitable consequence of the treatment procedure itself and pass quickly, while in others they indicate the development of complications and poor-quality treatment. You should never ignore pain after dental treatment, but this symptom does not always require repeated dental treatment.

Main causes

Dental treatment can be therapeutic or surgical, and pain can appear after any type of intervention. In most cases, mild or moderate pain is a physiological reaction of tissues to the manipulation, can be easily eliminated by taking anti-inflammatory or painkillers and lasts several days after a visit to the dentist.

Also, pain after dental treatment appears due to complications and violations of the technique of performing medical manipulations. Pain is most often observed after:

• dental fillings;
• root canal treatment;
• removal of a diseased tooth, cyst or granuloma.

The dentist must advise the patient about how the recovery process will occur after treatment and for what symptoms it is necessary to come for another appointment. Also, for comfortable well-being after treatment, anti-inflammatory and, in some cases, antibacterial drugs are prescribed. If, despite following all the doctor’s recommendations, the pain continues to bother you, then it is best to undergo another examination by a specialist.

Pain after dental filling

Dental filling is the most frequently performed treatment procedure in any dental clinic. Due to the high prevalence of caries, each dentist installs several fillings per day. However, even such routine dental manipulation in some cases leads to complications and pain in the patient after treatment.

Slight pain when putting pressure on a filled tooth normally goes away a few days after the filling is installed. To reduce discomfort, you can take anti-inflammatory medications as prescribed by your doctor. But if the pain does not go away and intensifies over time, then this may indicate a complication after dental filling. The main causes of pain are:

• Improper grinding of the filling . Grinding is one of the final stages of tooth restoration using filling materials. This procedure is performed to make the filling smooth and consistent with the patient's bite. If the dentist incorrectly polished the filling and it remains too high, this leads to improper closure of the jaws and injury to the mucous membrane. Also, an unsuitable filling increases the sensitivity of teeth to various irritants (exposure to cold, sour or sweet foods). In such cases, you need to contact your dentist again so that he can adjust the height of the filling and the associated discomfort will no longer bother you.
• Allergy to filling materials . Materials for filling teeth are being improved every year, but the use of even the most modern filling materials cannot completely eliminate the occurrence of an allergic reaction. Symptoms of individual intolerance include swelling, pain, redness of the gums, and a strange taste in the mouth. It is important to understand that similar symptoms occur if you are allergic to a local anesthetic drug. If you suspect that you are allergic to a temporary or permanent filling, you should immediately contact a dental clinic, where the placed filling will be removed from the tooth and filled with other materials.
• Violation of filling technique . Pain after dental treatment sometimes appears if the dentist performed one of the filling stages incorrectly. Pain may occur due to overheating of dentin when preparing a carious cavity with a drill, which leads to inflammation of the pulp. Pain also appears if a special acid is applied for a long time, which improves the fixation of the filling on the tooth, or if the drying technology is disrupted. Any mistake when installing a filling can lead to increased tooth sensitivity and pain. The method for correcting complications is selected individually.
• Development of secondary caries . In some cases, an infectious process can develop under a previously installed filling. This occurs due to insufficient treatment of the carious cavity before installing the filling, as well as due to the loose fit of the filling to the natural tissues of the tooth. The danger of this process is that it is more difficult to visually notice secondary caries. Signs of pathology are darkening of the enamel and pain in the tooth affected by caries. In such cases, the dentist removes the old filling and re-treats the caries.
• Incorrect diagnosis . Pain after filling teeth occurs in cases where the dentist missed the presence of pulpitis in the patient and did not check the condition of the root canals of the tooth. Moreover, even after a high-quality filling is installed, complaints may remain of aching, intense pain of a bursting nature, which intensifies with chewing and biting. To prevent further spread of the inflammatory process, cleaning and treatment of the root canals and removal of the nerve are required. After these manipulations, the canals are filled and the tooth is restored.

To avoid complications and pain after dental filling, a thorough preliminary examination and treatment using high-quality materials by an experienced dentist is necessary. If you experience severe pain after installing a filling, you should immediately contact your doctor.

How long can the pain last?

The process of enamel destruction is gradual and often painless. Therefore, patients rarely see a doctor in a timely manner. But the result of these changes is the same - the inflammatory process provokes diseases such as:

• caries;
• pulpitis;
• periodontitis.

Treatment consists of performing an operation with mechanical impact on the tooth cavity in order to treat the damaged areas and subsequent filling. Such intervention in some cases provokes post-filling pain. Their appearance or absence depends on the level of preparedness of the dentist, the severity of the inflammatory process, and compliance with hygiene rules.

It should be noted that many people experience toothache immediately after surgery. This is a common reaction of damaged nerve endings to dental intervention, which goes away quickly. Sometimes the pain syndrome continues for 2-3 days and occurs without much intensity.

If pain is felt for several hours after filling or discomfort appears when pressing for the next 3-5 days, such manifestations should not cause alarm. In most cases, such symptoms are explained by the patient’s excessive sensitivity. They can be relieved with painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs.

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After root canal filling, pain may persist for 3-4 weeks. Every day these sensations decrease. If pain persists and gum swelling does not go away, you should consult a dentist.

When a tooth aches for several days after treatment, there is reason to visit the dentist again. Using x-rays, he will determine the cause of painful manifestations and eliminate them.

A situation in which the pain does not go away for a long time does not allow self-medication with analgesic drugs. This leads to serious complications. To avoid them, you need to consult with your doctor, who, if indicated, will perform pulp removal and cleaning of the dental canals.

Pain after root canal treatment

The need for root canal treatment worries the vast majority of patients in dental clinics. Many people are afraid of pain during and after the procedure. However, root canal treatment is primarily aimed at eliminating discomfort and pain in advanced stages of caries, when the nerve and pulp of the diseased tooth are involved in the pathological process.

To completely remove the affected tissue, the dentist opens, cleans, prepares and carefully fills the root canals of the tooth. This type of treatment is considered quite invasive and even after proper procedure, mild pain may bother the patient for 1-2 days. Unpleasant sensations do not affect general well-being or ability to work and are reduced by taking anti-inflammatory drugs (paracetamol, ibuprofen).

However, in some cases, severe pain indicates complications of root canal treatment:

• Exit of filling material beyond the root apex . A common complication of root canal treatment that occurs due to improper procedure technique. The patient may be bothered by aching pain that intensifies with load on the tooth. In combination with insufficient treatment of the canal, this can lead to severe periodontal inflammation, as well as intense pain after tooth treatment.
• Mechanical injury from tools . If, while cleaning the canals, the dentist does not fully comply with the accuracy and delicacy of the movements, then perforation (perforation) of the canal and damage to the periodontal tissues with the instrument are possible, followed by the development of inflammation and pain.
• Incomplete canal filling . In some cases, root canals have a complex structure and therefore are not completely filled with filling material. In unsealed areas, conditions are created for the development of an infectious process, which is accompanied by severe pain.
• Development of periodontitis . Advanced stages of caries and pulpitis can lead to inflammation of the periodontal tissues. At the initial stage of development of the disease, changes are not visible on an x-ray. Therefore, even after proper treatment of the tooth canals, the patient may complain of pain and an unpleasant feeling of fullness in the gums. As the disease progresses, granulation tissue or granuloma forms and must be removed surgically. In acute periodontitis, health worsens, the temperature rises, and general weakness is noted.

It is important to remember that during the first days after root canal treatment, slight pain (especially when putting stress on the tooth) is a physiological reaction. But if the pain is pronounced, interferes with meals, sleep and disrupts the usual daily routine, then it is necessary to be examined by a dentist and eliminate the complications that have developed as soon as possible. Treatment tactics in each case are selected individually, depending on the cause of the pain.

Reasons for the development of complications

The very cause of severe pain in the case of each patient must be considered separately. Among the most common sources of such pathology may be the following:

• Incorrectly chosen treatment method, gross mistakes made.
• The channel was not cleaned correctly.
• The doctor left foreign objects inside the canal, did not clean out the tooth fragment, and broke the instrument.
• The patient had a sudden allergic reaction to anesthesia or root canal filling agents, or various medications taken during treatment.
• The filling was placed poorly.
• Severe periodontitis developed and gum damage began.
• The canal walls were perforated during the cleaning process.
• The root of the tooth has received any damage.

Against the background of all of the above, the inflammatory process can actively develop. It becomes the cause of severe pain experienced by the patient.

Pain after tooth extraction

In some cases, effective treatment of advanced diseases involves the removal of a diseased tooth followed by prosthetics. After tooth extraction, pain, swelling and redness of the gums are a normal reaction of the body to tissue injury. You should be concerned if:

• the intensity of the pain does not decrease over time and is poorly removed by painkillers;
• the hole does not overgrow for a long time;
• purulent discharge appears from the wound;
• severe swelling of the mucous membrane occurs;
• body temperature rises.

The above symptoms indicate the development of an infectious process in the gum tissue. This happens if the tooth extraction technique is not followed or if the patient does not follow the doctor’s recommendations for oral care.

Contact us for the right treatment

Our clinic employs dentists with extensive experience. They perform high-quality cleaning of dental canals and carefully ensure that the person does not experience any complications. We will also give all the necessary advice regarding the course of the recovery process, and recommend the necessary means to reduce pain and relieve inflammation.

We offer our customers competitive prices and special discounts. To get your first appointment and get professional advice, call the numbers listed on the website or leave a request.

How to cope with pain after dental treatment?

To feel comfortable after dental treatment, you must first take proper care of your oral cavity. The dentist must tell the patient in detail exactly how to carry out daily hygienic care of teeth and gums. After installing a filling or cleaning the canals, it is important not to put heavy stress on the treated tooth for some time. The following methods are also effective:

• Cold compress . Exposure to cold is good for eliminating swelling and dulling pain after invasive dental procedures. On the first day after treatment, you can apply cold compresses to the cheek in the area of ​​pain. In order not to overcool the tissues, it is important to take a short break every 10-15 minutes.
• Baths with antiseptics or medicinal herbs . In some cases, it is recommended to take baths with antiseptic solutions several times a day to prevent infection and relieve pain.
• Taking medications . To improve your well-being in the first few days after dental treatment, you can take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that quickly and effectively relieve pain, swelling and other unpleasant symptoms. A safe remedy must be recommended by a doctor. Antibiotics after dental treatment are also prescribed exclusively by the attending physician.

If you follow all the doctor’s recommendations, the pain after tooth treatment will gradually decrease and completely disappear after a few days.

Preventive measures

In order not to provoke pain after installing a filling, you must adhere to the following rules:

• Avoid eating sweets, hot and cold foods;
• reduce the load on the treated tooth, avoiding the possibility of damage to the filling in the process of chewing solid food;
• Avoid chewing gum and a toothbrush with stiff bristles.

All measures are temporary and simple, but following them will prevent possible complications.

Timely treatment of a diseased tooth and seeking help in case of pain after surgery is the basis for the successful completion of dental filling.

When do you need to see a doctor urgently?

Acute, throbbing pain after dental treatment, deterioration in general health and an increase in body temperature are a signal for immediate medical attention. The appearance of purulent discharge, severe swelling of the gum mucosa, or various sensitivity disorders in the oral cavity require a thorough examination by a dentist. You should also consult with a specialist if mild, aching pain bothers you for a long time after treatment or occurs when exposed to any provoking factor.

In what situation should you consult a doctor?

Post-filling pain that does not go away and intensifies over time may indicate an inflammatory process. There is no point in looking for the reason on your own. It is necessary to consult a doctor without delay, since not all discomfort can be explained by tissue hypersensitivity.

Pain that does not subside for more than 4 weeks is an indication for examination. But you should not wait exactly that long if: the temperature has risen, the gums have swollen, or the general condition has worsened.

A similar picture may indicate the reasons listed above. Among them the main ones remain:

1. performed in bad faith .
2. Recurrent caries.
3. Rejection of the filling material, accompanied by itching and rash on the skin. The filling needs to be replaced.
4. A cyst is an accumulation of pus. The process develops slowly, but can lead to serious consequences, even to oncology.
5. Pulpitis is a lesion of soft tissue. If infection penetrates into the apex of the tooth root during canal treatment, acute throbbing pain occurs very quickly. It intensifies when eating hot food. Immediate re-treatment of the canals is required, since anti-inflammatory drugs provide a temporary effect.
6. Poor fit of the installed filling. In this case, the doctor will polish it, and the pain will disappear.

Correction is necessary in every case of poor-quality filling, because the slightest defect becomes the cause of a repeated inflammatory process.

An exceptional danger is the appearance of pus. This may indicate the occurrence of periodontitis or pulpitis, the formation of flux (inflammation of the periosteum).

To prevent the spread of inflammation, immediate contact with a specialist is required.