Tooth Sensitivity After Filling: Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment

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How to Handle Sensitive Teeth After a Filling

Medically reviewed by Christine Frank, DDS — Written by Valencia Higuera — Updated on January 30, 2024

Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Outlook

Teeth sensitivity is common after a filling. There are many things you can do until the tooth returns to normal, like avoiding hot and cold foods and drinks, chewing on the other side, and brushing gently.

What is a dental filling?

Dental fillings are a common way to treat cavities, which are areas of decaying tooth that become small holes. During a filling, your dentist fills these holes with a substance, such as amalgam or composite. While this is a simple, routine procedure, it leaves many people with sensitive teeth afterward.

In most cases, tooth sensitivity goes away on its own within a few days or several weeks, depending on the cause.

What will I feel after a filling?

Dentists often numb the area around the affected tooth before doing a filling. As a result, you probably won’t feel anything during the first hour or two after your appointment. Once the numbness wears off, you might notice some unusual sensations in your mouth.

These include:

pain in your teeth, especially when breathing in cold air, drinking hot or cold liquids, and eating hot or cold foods
tenderness in your gums
pain in the teeth surrounding the filling
pain when clenching teeth
pain in the affected tooth when eating, brushing, or flossing

What causes tooth sensitivity after a filling?

Several things can cause tooth sensitivity after a filling.

Pulpitis

Before filling a cavity, your dentist removes the decayed part of your tooth with a drill that releases heat. In rare cases, this inflames the pulp, which is the connective tissue that forms the center of your teeth, causing pulpitis. If your dentist doesn’t remove all of the decaying tissue, it can also cause an infection in the pulp of the affected tooth. When this happens, you might notice your gums swelling or a pocket of pus near the tooth.

There are two types of pulpitis. The first is reversible pulpitis, where the tooth will be sensitive but the pulp will heal and get better. The second is irreversible pulpitis, where the pulp is unable to heal and your tooth will then need root canal treatment.

Change in bite

Sometimes a filling can cause the affected tooth to be taller than your other teeth. This can make it painful to close your mouth due to extra pressure on the affected tooth. In some cases, biting down can even crack the filling, so contact your dentist as soon as you notice a problem with your bite.

Multiple tooth surfaces

You might also feel pain or sensitivity from having two different surfaces in your mouth. For example, if one tooth has a gold crown, and the tooth above or below it has a silver filling, you might feel an odd sensation when they touch.

Referred pain

It’s also common to feel pain in the teeth surrounding the affected one. This is due to a phenomenon called referred pain, which involves feeling pain in an area other than the source of the pain.

Allergic reaction

Sensitivity after a dental filling could be an allergic reaction to the materials used in the filling. You might also notice a rash or itching nearby. Contact your dentist if you think you might be having an allergic reaction. They can redo the filling with a different material.

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How to manage tooth sensitivity

You can help to reduce sensitivity by:

taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
temporarily avoiding hot or cold foods and drinks
temporarily avoiding acidic foods and drinks, such as citrus fruits, wine, and yogurt
gently brushing and flossing
using a desensitizing toothpaste
chewing with the opposite side of your mouth

A problem with your bite is the most common cause of sensitivity. Contact your dentist as soon as possible if you think there’s a problem with your bite, which you may not notice until after the numbness has worn off. They can adjust the filling so it better matches your other teeth.

If you have pulpitis that doesn’t resolve on its own after a few weeks, you may need a root canal.

How long will the sensitivity last?

Sensitivity from a tooth filling should go away within two to four weeks. If the sensitivity doesn’t seem to be getting any better during that time, or it lasts for longer than four weeks, contact your dentist.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

After-care instructions for fillings. (n.d.).http://www.northerndentalaccess.org/after-care-instructions-for-fillings.html
Carr A. (2014). Adult health: Whatcauses sensitive teeth, and how can I treat them?https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/sensitive-teeth/faq-20057854
Moreon fillings. (2013). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/more-on-fillings
PozziA, et al. (2011). Pain management fordentists: The role of ibuprofen. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3414241/
Sensitive teeth. (2003).https://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Publications/Files/patient_33.pdf?la=en
Ubertalli JT. (2016). Pulpitis.http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/dental-disorders/common-dental-disorders/pulpitis

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Medically reviewed by Christine Frank, DDS — Written by Valencia Higuera — Updated on January 30, 2024

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