Post Operative Filling Instructions

Fillings are considered a routine procedure for a dental office. Instead of old silver based amalgams, Berkeley Heights Dental Group places Light Cured Resin and Glass Ionomer restorations to cure the teeth of cavities. These instructions will help you feel more comfortable once the procedure has been completed.

What Can I Expect?

Today’s restorative materials adhere to the walls of the tooth in order to eliminate any spaces between the filling and its surroundings. This differs greatly from the way cavities used to be treated years ago. On occasion this method can produce temporary tooth sensitivity to temperature and biting. This reaction is quite common and can take several days to go away depending on how deep the cavity penetrated into the tooth. In some cases your bite may feel different and may need to be adjusted by the dentist. If the sensitivity does not feel like it is decreasing after 2 weeks, contact the dentist to evaluate the tooth in question.

What Can I Do? 

Observance of the symptoms stated above is most important. If necessary, anti-sensitivity toothpastes (Sensodyne) and fluoride rinses (ACT) can be utilized to decrease the symptoms. In extreme cases prescription toothpastes (Prevident) can be used as well. Monitor the tooth over a 2 week period for a decrease of the sensitivity. If it stays at the same intensity, contact the dentist. If the sensitivity increases post-operatively, contact the dentist. Self-check your bite to see if your teeth are coming together properly. If you feel that the tooth where the filling was placed is preventing your other teeth from coming together, contact the dentist. The filling may need to be adjusted.

It is always better to be safe than sorry, so if you have any questions or concerns please call our office to speak to our staff.