Getting a filling is a positive step toward a healthier smile. At Keep Smiling El Paso, we use modern, tooth-colored composite fillings to restore your tooth’s strength and appearance seamlessly. These restorations are designed to be durable and look just like your natural teeth.
Now that your procedure is complete, it’s important to know how to care for your new filling to ensure a comfortable recovery and long-lasting results. We’ve created this simple guide to walk you through what to expect and how to handle the next few hours and days.
The Numbness Factor: What to Do First
Immediately following your appointment, the most noticeable sensation will be the numbness in your lips, tongue, and cheek from the local anesthetic. This is essential for a pain-free procedure, but it requires some caution afterward.
Avoid Accidental Injury
When your mouth is numb, it’s very easy to bite or burn yourself without realizing it. We highly recommend you avoid chewing any food until the numbness has completely worn off. This simple step can prevent painful cuts or sores on your tongue and lips.
Steer Clear of Hot Drinks
Your ability to sense temperature is also temporarily offline. Refrain from drinking hot beverages like coffee or tea while you’re still numb. You could unknowingly burn the inside of your mouth. Stick to room-temperature water until full feeling returns.
A Special Note for Parents
If your child just had a filling, they will need close observation until the anesthetic wears off. The strange feeling of a “fat lip” or “sleepy tongue” can make children curious, and they often chew or poke at the numb area. This can cause serious damage to their soft tissues. Watching them closely for a few hours can prevent a painful injury.
When and What to Eat
One of the best features of composite fillings is that they are fully hardened and set by the time you leave our office. We use a special light to cure the material instantly, making it strong and durable right away.
This means you can chew on your new filling as soon as the anesthetic has completely disappeared. Once you have full feeling back, you can resume your normal diet. However, just like with your natural teeth, it’s wise to avoid chewing on extremely hard foods with the filled tooth. Things like ice, hard candy, or popcorn kernels can put excessive force on any tooth and risk causing a fracture.
Managing Sensitivity After Your Filling
It is very common and normal to experience some sensitivity in the tooth after a dental restoration. The tooth has undergone a procedure, and it may take some time to settle down.
What Kind of Sensitivity is Normal?
You might notice sensitivity to cold, extreme temperature changes, or pressure when biting down. Usually, the deeper the original cavity was, the more sensitivity you can expect. This tenderness should gradually decrease and resolve within a few weeks.
How to Find Relief
For any mild discomfort or tenderness, over-the-counter pain medication can be very effective. Ibuprofen (like Motrin™ or Advil™) or Tylenol™ works well to alleviate soreness. If your sensitivity lasts beyond a few days without improving, or if it seems to be getting worse, please contact our office.
Is Your Bite Feeling Off?
We carefully check how your teeth come together before you leave, but it can be difficult to get it perfect while you’re still numb.
After the anesthetic wears off, pay attention to your bite. If the filled tooth feels “high” or hits before your other teeth, or if it just feels strange or sore to chew in that area, your bite likely needs a minor adjustment. Please don’t wait for it to “wear down” on its own, as this can cause prolonged soreness and discomfort. Call us for a quick appointment; adjusting the bite is a simple, painless process that provides immediate relief.
Other Common Post-Op Sensations
Gum Irritation: The gum tissue around the tooth may have been slightly irritated during the procedure and could feel sore for a few days. The site where the anesthetic was administered might also be tender. This is temporary and will heal on its own.
New Texture: Your tongue is incredibly perceptive and will notice the new texture and contour of your filling. It might feel slightly different from your original tooth. This is normal, and you will become accustomed to the new feeling in just a few days.
We’re Here to Keep You Smiling
Your comfort and health are our top priorities. If your bite feels uneven, you have persistent pain, or you have any other questions or concerns about your new filling, please call the Keep Smiling El Paso office. We are always here to help ensure your smile is healthy and happy.
