What Not to Do After Getting Dental Fillings?

What Are Dental Fillings?

They are dental materials that repair and restore damaged teeth. Dental fillings in Braes Timbers Houston, TX, are famous for treating dental cavities. However, that is not the only reason a dentist near you would recommend a tooth filling. Other reasons you may need dental fillings are:

1. Cracked or broken tooth
2. Weak tooth enamel
3. Deep fissures on chewing surfaces of teeth

How Do Dental Fillings Work?

Traditional dental fillings work by replacing the damaged part of the tooth with foreign material. Further, they work by creating a barrier on teeth surfaces to prevent the entry of bacteria to inner layers.

Usually, dental fillings restore diseased and damaged teeth. However, you can get special fillings called dental sealants in preventive dentistry. They proactively protect teeth from bacteria and acids that cause dental cavities. Even though these fillings are common in pediatric dentistry, adults too can get them.

What Is the Process of Getting Dental Fillings?

When you visit us at Mi Casa Dental – Houston, TX, for dental fillings, the initial step we take is conducting a comprehensive dental exam. The exam allows the dentist to identify the extent of damage or infection of your tooth. Afterward, the dentist near you will start drilling your tooth enamel to eliminate the diseased part of the tooth. Along the process, (s)he will use a cavity detector to keep checking for traces of infection, then clean the tooth accordingly.

Once the tooth is clean, the dentist can begin repairing it with a filling material of choice. Applying the filling is easy since the materials are in a putty-like state. Afterward, the dentist will employ a laser to harden the filling, bonding it permanently to your natural tooth structure.

Will the Process Be Painful?

One of the most dreaded experiences in dentistry is dental pain. Technically, the process of drilling the tooth can cause some discomfort and in some cases, pain. The stakes are higher if you have a toothache as a symptom of dental decay.

Therefore, dentists in 77074 use local anesthesia before beginning any dental work. It numbs your mouth so you don’t feel pain during the treatment. Sometimes dentists can recommend sedation dentistry, usually for children and other patients struggling with dental anxiety.

What Happens After Getting Dental Fillings? Immediately after your treatment, your dentist should inform you of a few things to anticipate, including:

1. Sensitivity on the treated tooth
2. A feeling of an uneven bite
3. Numbness – it will take a few hours after your treatment for the anesthesia to wear off completely from your system.
4. Tender and sore jaw – due to keeping your mouth open for a prolonged period.

None of these experiences should be severe enough to prolong more than a day or two. If it takes longer to resolve, contact your dentist

Aftercare for Dental Fillings

Even if a dental filling repairs your diseased tooth, it does not render it tamper-proof. If you are not careful, you will gradually damage the tooth filling or incur another dental cavity.

Dos After Treatment

1. Eat soft foods during the first-day post-treatment. Ease your way into other foods once the numbing has completely worn off.
2. Chew away from the treated tooth – at least during your first meal immediately after treatment. It is just a measure to heighten your comfort as your mouth adjusts to having a dental cavity.
3. Brush your teeth at least twice daily.
4. Floss daily to remove plaque and food debris between your teeth.
5. Visit your dentist after every few months for dental cleanings and exams.

Don’ts After Treatment

1. Eat immediately after your treatment – you risk hurting your mouth on accident because your mouth will still be numb.
2. Eat hot meals immediately after treatment – allow the dentist filling ample time to settle without the risk of expansion and contraction that impacts the bond with your natural tooth structure.
3. Use a sharp object to poke at the treated tooth.
4. Eat sticky foods – especially during the first 1-3 days after treatment.
5. Eat hard and crunchy foods that can crack or break your tooth fillings.
6. Bite fingernails chew non-food items or open cans with your teeth. Strive to abandon all poor oral habits after treatment to increase the longevity of your dental fillings.