Is It Normal to Have Tooth Pain After a Recent Filling?
Experiencing tooth pain after a recent filling can be confusing and worrying. You may have felt fine immediately after your appointment, only to notice discomfort later that day or the following morning. A cold drink might suddenly sting, biting down may feel sharp or uncomfortable, or the tooth may ache without a clear reason.
A filling is intended to stop pain, not create it, so that post-treatment discomfort can feel unsettling. Mild sensitivity is common and often settles within a few days. However, pain that worsens, throbs, or lasts longer than expected should not be ignored. If you are concerned, the team at Dental Nook can assess the tooth and address the issue early before it becomes more serious.
Possible Causes of Tooth Pain After a Recent Filling
There are several reasons why pain or sensitivity may occur after a filling. Some causes are temporary and improve on their own, while others require dental treatment.
Inflammation of the Tooth Nerve
When a filling is placed close to the nerve, the nerve can become irritated. This may cause aching or sharp pain, particularly with hot or cold foods and drinks. In many cases, the nerve settles as the tooth heals. Persistent or worsening pain can indicate that the nerve is not recovering as expected.
A Filling That Is Too High
If the filling sits slightly higher than the surrounding teeth, extra pressure is placed on that tooth when you bite or chew. Even a small imbalance can feel uncomfortable. Adjusting the bite usually brings quick relief.
Ongoing Nerve Damage
Sometimes the nerve inside the tooth is too damaged to heal. This can result in deep, constant pain that occurs even without eating or drinking. Dental treatment is needed to stop the pain and protect the tooth.
Infection Around the Tooth Root
If bacteria reach the nerve, an infection can develop near the root of the tooth. This often causes throbbing pain and may spread to the jaw or face. Swelling or tenderness may also be present. This condition requires prompt professional care.
A Crack in the Tooth or Filling
Small cracks are not always visible but can still cause sharp pain when biting, followed by relief when pressure is released. Cracks allow movement within the tooth, irritating the nerve and causing intermittent pain.
Gaps or Leaks Around the Filling
If the filling does not seal the tooth properly, bacteria and fluids can enter underneath. This can lead to sensitivity, soreness, and ongoing discomfort that may worsen over time.
Sensitivity That Does Not Improve
Mild sensitivity after a filling is normal, but it should gradually ease. Sensitivity that lingers for weeks or causes pain after the stimulus is removed may indicate nerve irritation and should be checked.
Pain Spreading to Nearby Teeth or the Jaw
Pain from one tooth can sometimes feel like it is coming from another area. This referred pain can make it difficult to identify the problem without a dental examination.
How Dental Nook Diagnoses the Cause of Pain?
If you experience ongoing or severe pain after a filling, your dentist will perform a thorough assessment to identify the cause and plan the right treatment.
Nerve Vitality Testing
Cold or warm stimuli may be applied to assess how the nerve responds. A healthy nerve reacts briefly and settles quickly.
Percussion Testing
Gently tapping the tooth helps identify inflammation or infection around the root.
Dental X-Rays
X-rays allow the dentist to check for infection, cracks, deep decay, or bone changes that are not visible on the surface.
Bite Assessment
Special bite paper may be used to see how your teeth meet. A high filling can often be corrected with a small adjustment.
Examination of the Filling
The shape, edges, and seal of the filling are carefully checked for gaps, rough areas, or defects that could irritate the tooth.
Signs You Need Urgent Dental Care
- Pain That Is Getting Worse: Pain after a filling should slowly settle. If it becomes stronger after a few days, the tooth may not be healing properly and needs to be checked.
- Severe Or Throbbing Pain: Deep, pulsing pain that does not ease can point to nerve damage or infection. This type of pain rarely improves without treatment.
- Pain That Disrupts Sleep: Tooth pain that wakes you at night often signals serious nerve inflammation. This is not normal and should be assessed promptly.
- Swelling Of The Face, Gums, or Jaw: Swelling around the tooth or face can mean infection. Prompt dental care is important to stop it from spreading.
- Fever or Feeling Unwell: Feeling unwell or running a fever alongside tooth pain suggests the body is fighting an infection. In this case, dental treatment should not be delayed.
- Sharp Pain When Biting Or Chewing: Sudden pain when chewing may indicate a crack, infection near the root, or pressure from the filling. A dental exam is needed to find the cause.
- Bad Taste or Pus Near the Tooth: A constant bad taste or visible pus is a common sign of an abscess. This requires urgent dental care.
- Numbness or Tingling: Ongoing numbness in the lip, chin, or tongue after dental treatment is not expected. This should be checked as soon as possible.
A Real-Life Case: Severe Pain After a Filling
A patient recently presented to our clinic with the following symptoms. They had a filling placed after part of an existing filling had come away, and the pain began shortly after the procedure.
- Severe pain affecting one side of the head, radiating toward the eye, neck, and glands.
- Sensitivity to cold temperatures without pain when the tooth was touched directly.
- Discomfort in the gum and cheek area, with no visible facial swelling.
- No improvement in pain despite taking Panadeine Forte and prescribed antibiotics.
Analysis of Symptoms
Severe Radiating Pain
Intense pain that travels from the tooth into surrounding areas such as the jaw, ear, or neck can indicate deep involvement of the tooth pulp or the development of an abscess. This pattern of pain often suggests that the inner tissue of the tooth has been significantly affected and requires prompt dental assessment.
Sensitivity to Cold Temperatures
A sharp reaction to cold foods or drinks may point to irreversible pulpitis or the presence of a crack in the tooth. Both conditions expose sensitive internal structures of the tooth, leading to discomfort when temperature changes occur.
No Pain on Direct Tooth Contact
The absence of pain when biting or touching the tooth may help rule out issues such as a high filling. However, it does not exclude other causes of discomfort, including nerve inflammation or an underlying infection.
No Facial Swelling
A lack of visible swelling does not automatically rule out infection. In the early stages, an abscess may exist without noticeable swelling, making it important to monitor symptoms closely and seek dental review if pain continues.
Treatment Options for Severe Tooth Pain After a Recent Filling
Adjusting the Filling to Restore a Comfortable Bite
At times, a filling may sit slightly higher than the surrounding teeth. This places additional pressure on the tooth during biting or chewing. Your dentist can carefully adjust the filling so the bite feels even again, which often provides rapid pain relief.
Smoothing or Repairing the Existing Filling
Fillings with rough edges or minor defects can irritate the tooth and nearby tissues. This irritation may cause discomfort during brushing or eating. Smoothing or repairing the filling can help reduce sensitivity and ease pain.
Replacing the Filling if It Is Not Sealing Correctly
If a filling does not form a proper seal, bacteria or fluids can enter beneath it. This can irritate the nerve and lead to ongoing pain. In these cases, the filling may need to be removed and replaced to adequately protect the tooth.
Treating an Inflamed or Damaged Nerve
When the nerve inside the tooth becomes severely inflamed and is unable to recover, the pain may become constant or intense. Root canal treatment may be recommended to remove the affected nerve tissue, relieve pain, and preserve the tooth.
Treating Infection Around the Tooth
If an infection or abscess is present, prompt treatment is essential. The dentist may drain the infection and carry out appropriate dental procedures to eliminate the source. Early treatment helps prevent the infection from spreading and reduces discomfort.
Prescribing Medication When Medically Required
In certain situations, pain relief medication or antibiotics may be prescribed to support dental treatment. Medication is used cautiously and only when clinically necessary, and it
How Can You Manage the Pain at Home?
Pain Relief Medication:
Over-the-counter pain relief such as paracetamol or ibuprofen may help ease pain and reduce inflammation when used according to the instructions on the packet. Do not exceed the recommended dosage, and avoid combining medications unless a healthcare professional has advised you to do so.
Food and Drink Temperature:
Very hot, cold, or sugary foods and drinks can trigger sharp discomfort after a filling. Choosing foods and beverages that are closer to room temperature can help limit sensitivity while the tooth is settling.
Chewing Habits:
Using the opposite side of your mouth when chewing helps reduce pressure on the recently filled tooth and lowers the risk of sudden pain when biting down.
Gentle Cleaning:
Brushing twice daily with a soft-bristle toothbrush and flossing gently helps keep the area clean without irritating the tooth or surrounding gums.
Desensitising Toothpaste:
Toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth can help soothe the nerve over time. It is most effective when used consistently each day rather than only when discomfort occurs.
Jaw Clenching and Grinding:
Clenching or grinding the teeth places additional pressure on the filling and the tooth’s nerve. Keeping the jaw relaxed, particularly during times of stress or while sleeping, can help reduce discomfort.
Time and Monitoring:
Mild discomfort should gradually improve over several days. If the pain remains unchanged or worsens, it may indicate that the tooth requires assessment by a dentist.
Limits of Home Care:
Home care measures can help manage discomfort but cannot treat nerve damage or infection. Severe pain, swelling, or pain that interrupts sleep requires prompt dental attention.
How Long Should Pain or Sensitivity Last?
After a dental filling, mild pain or sensitivity is common and usually temporary. Many people experience sensitivity to cold, heat, or pressure for a few days, and in some cases up to one or two weeks, while the tooth settles and the nerve calms. This discomfort should gradually lessen rather than remain constant or intensify. Pain that lasts beyond two weeks, becomes stronger, throbs, wakes you at night, or causes pain when biting is not considered normal and often indicates a bite issue, nerve inflammation, or infection. When symptoms follow this pattern, the tooth should be checked rather than left to settle on its own.
Our Support for Special Needs Children
We provide care for children with special needs in a calm, flexible, and respectful environment. Every child is unique, which is why we take the time to understand your child’s individual needs first.
Our Brisbane paediatric dentist for children with special needs takes time to learn how each child communicates, what may cause discomfort, and what helps them feel secure. A Brisbane special needs dentist adjusts appointments to suit each child, including how the visit is structured, the pace of treatment, and how much is completed in one appointment. Parents and carers are involved throughout the process, and treatment is never forced if a child is finding the experience difficult.
Sedation Options for Patients With Dental Anxiety
Dental fear can make treatment challenging, even when dental care is clearly necessary. In situations like this, sedation options such as sleep dentistry may be recommended to help patients undergo treatment comfortably and safely. Sedation does not alter the dental procedure itself; instead, it changes how the body responds during the appointment. The type of sedation used is carefully chosen by our dentists based on your individual needs, medical history, and level of anxiety.
Laughing Gas (Nitrous Oxide)
Laughing gas is a gentle form of sedation that is inhaled through a mask. It helps ease anxiety and reduce tension while allowing you to remain awake and responsive throughout the procedure. Once the gas is stopped, the effects wear off quickly.
IV Sedation
IV sedation involves medication administered through a vein to place patients into a deeply relaxed, dream-like state. With IV or twilight sedation, you remain conscious but often feel detached from the treatment and may have little memory of the procedure afterwards. This option is commonly used when anxiety levels are higher or when treatment is more complex.
Sleep Dentistry Under General Anaesthesia
Sleep dentistry involves the use of general anaesthesia, meaning you are completely asleep during dental treatment. This approach is used when dental care cannot be comfortably managed while awake, including situations involving severe anxiety, disability, or complex treatment requirements. Patients are closely monitored for the full duration of the procedure to ensure safety.
This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. If you have concerns about tooth pain or oral health, always consult a qualified dental professional.
If Something Doesn’t Feel Right, Don’t Ignore It
Discomfort after a filling should gradually settle, not continue or become more intense. If a tooth keeps causing concern, arranging an early check can help stop a minor problem from developing into something more serious. Our team is always available to discuss your symptoms and explain the treatment options that may be suitable. If cost is a concern, support for treatment may be available through SuperCare or flexible payment options such as Humm, which can be discussed if needed.
Click to get driving directions to Dental Nook: Westfield Carindale Shopping Centre, Level 1, Shop 2068 Opp Woolworths, 1151 Creek Rd, Carindale, QLD 4152
Phone: (07) 3124 0248
