Fillings - What To Expect Following A Filling
Generally we consider a “filling” anything we place inside a tooth in one appointment. Fillings fall into three Categories:
Composites: Tooth Colored / Non Metallic and made from a resin.
- Small Fillings – You may experience some minor sensitivity to temperature and biting for a few days. Your gum line may be irritated for a few days if the filling was placed next to it.
- Large Fillings - The concern with larger fillings and using tooth colored/ non metallic materials is that some teeth may not be able to handle a large filling. Any symptoms following the appointment when the filling is placed will let us know if the tooth will be fine with just a filling. It is normal to experience sensitivity to temperature and biting for 1-2 weeks following an appointment. If you do experience any of this for any more than 7 days please let us know. Dr. Fitzgerald will want to check you and may adjust your bite to give the tooth more relief.
- Build Up Material - In certain cases Dr. Fitzgerald will advise you that the material that was used is a build up material. This material is made from a resin like the conventional composites In this circumstance we many times know prior to, or will determine at the time of the filling that the tooth cannot hold a conventional filling. What determines this is usually if the tooth has internal fractures, very deep decay or the width of the filling is greater than one third of the chewing surface of the tooth. The build up material we use is white or tooth colored. The texture of this material is not as smooth as your natural tooth and you may notice it for a few days. Once build up material is used the tooth should not be uncomfortable at all. If it is then Dr. Fitzgerald will need to see you to evaluate the health of the nerve.
Glass Ionomers: These are tooth colored or white materials.
- Generally there is never any sensitivity with these materials. If you have any please let us know.
Silver/Alloy Fillings: These fillings are Silver in Color and used for back teeth.
- These fillings can be sensitive to cold and biting pressure for 2-4 days. After the filling is d done you need to be careful not to bite on anything hard for 24 hours, and be careful with o cold and hot liquids. If sensitivity persists please let us know and Dr. Fitzgerald may need o to see you to check the bite. If the tooth persists with symptoms then it may require more than a filling.