Many people find that their teeth become more sensitive than before after a filling, and they experience significant discomfort when encountering hot, cold, sweet and sour foods. Is this situation normal? Today, we will popularize the causes of tooth sensitivity after filling and how to deal with it.
What happens when a tooth becomes sensitive after a filling?
First of all, the filling itself is a stimulating treatment. During the filling process, the doctor will spray water, air, apply adhesive, light shaping, etc., all of which may cause some irritation to the pulp. In good condition of the pulp, this stimulation can be tolerated.
When the cavity is deep but has not yet affected the pulp, transfiguration of the pulp may occur after filling, which is manifested as the tooth's sensitivity to hot and cold, sweet and sour.
This sensitivity is usually short-term, but then gradually lessens. Generally, the sensitive state will disappear after two or three days, so there is no need to worry too much. This is a natural recovery process after a filling.
If some teeth may have been filled multiple times before, they may have worn out, cracked or other irritation, resulting in an unhealthy pulp condition. In this case, symptoms of pulpitis may develop. This condition may experience persistent sensitivity to heat and cold, and may even turn into spontaneous pain. If this is the case, a follow-up appointment is required and root canal treatment may be required.
In addition, there are some special circumstances that may also cause tooth sensitivity after filling. For example, the bond is not firmly adhered to during filling, there is a high point of occlusion, and there is no compression to produce bubbles during filling, which should generally be relatively rare when the doctor's skills are in place.
How should we deal with tooth sensitivity after filling?
First of all, if the sensitivity gradually lessens over the course of a week, then there is usually no special treatment required and the tooth can be given some time to recover naturally.
If the sensitive state persists for more than a week and even has a tendency to worsen, then it is advisable to seek medical attention in time so that the doctor can diagnose and treat it on a case-by-case basis.
Summary: Tooth sensitivity after filling is a relatively common condition, and in most cases it is postoperative sensitivity, which is a natural recovery process. However, we also need to be alert to the occurrence of some special conditions, such as pulpitis symptoms. Therefore, after filling, we need to pay close attention to the condition of the tooth and seek medical attention if there is any abnormality.