Post-op Instructions: Fillings

If we have used anesthetic, your cheek, lips,teeth, and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment. Please be careful to avoid chewing or biting them. It is normal to experience hot, cold and pressure sensitivity after your appointment. Your tooth (teeth) and/or gums are needing to heal. If your gums are sore, rinse with a warm salt-water solution (5ml salt in 250 ml of water) a few times a day to promote healing. Tooth sensitivity is usually transient and goes away as the tooth heals in a few days to a few weeks. The amount of sensitivity you have is usually related to a number of factors including the depth of decay or how close the filling comes to the nerve in the tooth, the tooth’s natural ability to heal, whether or not you clench and grind, and the amount of previous work or trauma to the tooth. If you have a bruxism splint, it would be a good idea to wear it at night to reduce the trauma to the tooth and promote healing. If your bite is not even, the tooth feels like it hits first or interferes when you chew on it in a certain way, you will need to have the bite adjusted. Please call the office for an appointment. In the short term, you may relieve the pain with your normal over-the-counter pain medication. If you are concerned or have questions, please call us!