Though some sensitivity is normal at first, a new filling is supposed to end a toothache, not create one. If your recently filled tooth still hurts months later, it’s trying to tell you something.
A filling that still hurts months later is not normal and warrants a call to Bagley Family Dental. This lingering pain can point to a high bite, a leaking or cracked filling, or irritation of the nerve, all of which require attention.
Post-Filling: What’s Normal, What Isn’t
Mild sensitivity to cold, sweets, or pressure for a few days to a couple of weeks as a filling and tooth settle is fairly common. However, this should improve quickly and steadily. If it doesn’t, certain symptoms indicate that a follow-up visit to your Greeley dentist may be in order:
- Steadily worsening pain
- Discomfort that lingers after exposure to hot or cold
- Pain that wakes you up at night
- Pain when you bite or chew
- A filling that feels high, rough, or loose
Any of these issues several weeks after a filling is a different story.
Why Some Restorations Don’t Settle
When a filling keeps hurting, the cause is commonly one of a few factors, like:
- The filling is sitting too high and hitting too hard when you bite
- Lingering decay that’s irritating the nerve
- A crack or gap where the filling meets the tooth
These issues are all addressable, with some requiring a simple fix, like bite adjustment on the filling, while others may call for a new restoration or root canal treatment.
When to Call the Office
Call if pain has lasted more than a few weeks, is getting worse, or comes with swelling, a bad taste, or a pimple-like bump on the gum. Dr. Andrew Bagley can examine your tooth and bite, take x-rays to pinpoint the source, and provide treatment, from tooth-colored fillings to root canal treatment, as needed.
Timely Filling Pain Relief in Greeley, CO
If you’re in Greeley and want to figure out why a filling still hurts long after treatment, contact Dr. Andrew Bagley and the helpful Bagley Family Dental team to schedule a consultation and exam.