You just had some new dental fillings done at your dentist in Orem, Utah, so what should you expect? Depending on how extensive the tooth decay was, there will be varying degrees of post-appointment discomfort. It could range from no pain to pain that may require a prescription to keep you comfortable.
Either Dr. Bowen or one of our hygienists numbed you for your procedure, and you may have slight tenderness around your gums as a result. This should be minimal and resolve itself in a few days.
If you had cavities between your teeth, your gums may be sore. In order to place your fillings, Dr. Bowen placed a divider to keep your teeth apart. This can sometimes dig slightly into the gums and cause discomfort after the anesthetic wears off. When removing tooth decay, if the decay is below the gums, often the gums will be irritated and need to heal over the course of a few days to a few weeks.
When using tooth-colored composite fillings, occasionally some patients experience differing levels of cold sensitivity. This is normal, and will resolve on its own. The cold sensitivity is a result of microscopic openings that are exposed in your tooth because of decay. They are further irritated when removing the decay (drilling), but will usually heal on their own in a few days to a few weeks.
Immediately after your fillings were placed and cured with our specialized curing light, Dr. Bowen adjusts the fillings to mimic your other teeth. We check your bite and make sure everything is smooth and imperceptible to you. However, since you are numb while this is happening, there may be minor discrepancies in how your teeth are biting or how they “fit” together following your fillings. Most of the time you teeth will adjust, but periodically you may need to have you fillings smoothed or adjusted. Don’t worry, that is an easy procedure. We will schedule you at your convenience and have you in and out within 15-20 minutes. The filling material that we use is self-polishing, so if there are minor areas that aren’t perfectly smooth, those will typically resolve on their own.
All of the above are common with fillings. Dr. Bowen does everything he can to avoid any post-procedure issues, but they inevitably arise. Give yourself 5-7 days to adjust to your new fillings. If at that point you have any concerns, please call our office and we will schedule you at a time that works best for your to make any needed adjustments and ensure that you’re dental work is the best it can be!