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Do Dental Fillings Hurt?

woman holding ice pack on painful mouth

The short answer to this question is that dental fillings may cause some discomfort and pain, but it should not be anything that keeps you from going about your day-to-day activities.

Dental fillings are a common procedure that is used to fill cavities in teeth. The process of having a dental filling usually involves the dentist numbing the area around the tooth, drilling into the tooth to remove the decayed material, and then filling the cavity with a composite resin material.

How Badly Do Dental Fillings Hurt?

Dental fillings can be a bit uncomfortable, but most people find that the pain is manageable. The procedure generally only lasts for a few minutes, and most people report that any pain they experience dissipates shortly after the filling is complete. In general, most people find that they are able to return to work or school shortly after their appointment. However, if you are experiencing significant pain after your appointment, please contact your dentist.

Having a filling done is a minor procedure especially when comparing it to oral surgery or tooth extractions like wisdom teeth removal. This type of surgery uses sedation many times where a cavity filling will mostly only require local anesthetics.

Is Your Mouth Numbed For a Dental Filling Procedure?

Having a filling done will require the dentist to use some local anesthesia to minimize pain for the patient. You will have a numbing agent applied to your gums prior to the injection of local anesthesia. Once the area is numb, you should not feel any pain during the procedure.

Some people may experience some pain and discomfort after the anesthesia has worn off. This is usually due to the fact that the dentist had to drill into your tooth in order to remove the decayed material. The pain is usually not severe, and over-the-counter pain medication should be enough to help you manage any discomfort you may experience.

How Long Does Pain Last After Dental Filling?

Although dental fillings will not cause you too much pain, you can expect a little discomfort for a day or two after the procedure. This is because your teeth will be sensitive to pressure and temperature changes. Additionally, you may have some pain when chewing hard foods. If you are experiencing pain that lasts longer than a few days, please contact your dentist.

Applying a cold compress to your cheek can help reduce any swelling you experience. Additionally, over-the-counter pain medications can help reduce any discomfort you feel.

Visit Family Tree Dental For A Cavity Filling

If you are located in Southeastern Ohio and you are in need of a dental filling, contact our dentists here at Family Tree Dental. We have offices located in Marietta and Belpre, Ohio. We also have an office in Parkersburg, WV just outside of Ohio.

Rosemar Has Relocated!

Our new office is now located at 3 Rosemar Circle Suite A Parkersburg, WV 26104 – (about .25 miles from our old location).

We look forward to serving you in our new, updated location!