On telling patients that they have a cavity that needs fixing, one of the questions we’re often asked is “do dental fillings hurt?” Here at Dental 266, our caring gentle dentists are committed to ensuring affordable and comfortable dental fillings for our patients.
So, what are dental fillings and when are they necessary?
Tooth fillings are a common dental procedure that’s carried out to repair a tooth that has tooth decay or an obvious cavity. The process involves removing any decayed or damaged material before the dentist cleans it and fills it with a type of filling material to restore its function.
Understanding dental pain
Pain is the body’s way of telling you that something is not quite right. A deep cavity can cause tooth sensitivity and pain and often, it’s the perception of tooth fillings causing even more pain that delays patients from getting treatment.
It’s at times like these that patients need to know that having a tooth filling is in the best interest of you and your tooth. Not only do tooth fillings get patients out of pain but they restore teeth to their full function.
Do dental fillings hurt? What can I expect during the procedure?
Sometimes, a dental cavity isn’t discovered until a patient attends their next dental check-up but often, it’s tooth sensitivity or toothache that sends them to the dentist’s waiting room. Sometimes toothache can be severe and the area may feel very tender.
An oral examination will be carried out and an x-ray may be taken to help diagnose the cause of the discomfort.
Before any treatment can begin, our dentist will administer a local anaesthetic to numb the mouth to be worked on so that while you may feel some discomfort, you shouldn’t feel any pain.
What to expect after tooth fillings?
Once the anaesthetic has worn off, it’s common for the mouth to feel tender and a little sensitive. Don’t worry this is perfectly normal. While many patients don’t require pain relief, if you feel discomfort then it’s fine to take over the counter painkillers to ease any sensitivity.
Why does it feel sensitive?
When dental fillings are carried out close to the tooth root it’s not uncommon for it to feel a degree of irritation. Generally speaking, however, any pain you may have felt before the tooth filling should improve not get worse.
If by chance, your filling feels uncomfortable then you should get in touch with your dentist. Sometimes dental fillings are placed too high and this puts pressure on the bite.
It’s an easy fix and the dentist will be able to adjust the filling to give a more natural feel. Often it isn’t until the anaesthetic has worn off and the patient is at home that they realise their bite feels a bit ‘off.
Potential problems with dental fillings?
Modern tooth fillings should last for several years depending on the material used. That said at some point your dental fillings will reach the end of their life span and may need replacing. Nowadays, many people are not keen to have mercury in their mouth and will often ask us to replace their old amalgam tooth fillings with ‘invisible’ white composite fillings.
While amalgam used to be the choice of dental material to fill cavities in back molars, advances in composite dental fillings mean that they are almost as strong as amalgam and certainly better looking. Our dentists will be happy to discuss the pros and cons of different dental filling materials.
Do dental fillings hurt when they’re replaced?
No, not at all. Local anaesthetic is always given to patients to ease any discomfort and moreover, composite fillings don’t need as much tooth structure to be removed. Asa result, there should be less drilling.
Other potential problems with tooth fillings include:
- Fillings can crack, fall out or break – This can happen when biting into food that is unexpectedly hard or overly chewy or because of trauma to the mouth possibly when a person is playing contact sports and not wearing a mouthguard. It’s important to seek dental treatment as soon as possible to prevent infection and to stop the damage from getting any worse.
- A space between the filling and the tooth – Sometimes space may form between the filling and the tooth, creating a minuscule opening that bacteria can access. While you won’t be able to see this with the naked eye, it’s likely to be picked up by the dentist during a routine check-up.
It’s far less painful to undergo a dental filling than it is to live with a cavity. Putting off treatment will only make matters worse as tooth decay can spread to tooth roots which is extremely painful, and ultimately could result in the loss of the tooth.
Hopefully, that has answered your question “do dental fillings hurt?”
Tooth fillings should never cause you pain. Even if you arrive in pain at our dental clinic, once you have been given anaesthesia we promise you won’t feel a thing. Our dentist will remove any decayed or infected material that is causing the pain, clean the cavity and fill it.
Don’t put off tooth fillings
Remember, getting treatment as soon as possible is essential to prevent bacteria and decay from spreading and causing pain. If you haven’t had a dental check-up in a while or you suspect you may have a cavity, come and talk to the friendly team at Dental266. Book now and call us on 02 9051 0600 and save 10% off (new patients only).
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner