4 replies to this topic

[TheFountain]

Are recently done composite fillings suppose to hurt when you chew food? I got them done about one week ago. They do not hurt when I clench down on the teeth, they hurt when I chew food only. Sometimes the pain radiates for a minute after I am done chewing. Normal? Something to worry about?

[lunarsolarpower]

Are recently done composite fillings suppose to hurt when you chew food? I got them done about one week ago. They do not hurt when I clench down on the teeth, they hurt when I chew food only. Sometimes the pain radiates for a minute after I am done chewing. Normal? Something to worry about?

I'm too lazy to answer so I'll quote one of the dental twins:

However, it is widely known that resin fillings tend to provoke sensitivity, even in cavities of modest depth.

Unless the sensitivity is severe, the best course of action is often to do nothing, and to allow time for the sensitivity to resolve.

[lunarsolarpower]

Ok, I did just want to add that what you're waiting for is for the pulpal irritation to resolve. Sometimes this requires reparative dentin to form. Other times it just takes a week or two to go away. The problem with composite is that it shrinks a bit as it light cures. That creates stress on the tooth and can result in the sensitivity.

[shawn]

Expect that to last for some time, but the good news is it eventually diminishes.
Mine took different lengths of time, longest being 2 months.
Also, those composites are not the hardest substance and can be broken, so don't try chewing popcorn kernels and other hard stuff with them when they do calm down.

[hypnotoad]

I had the same problem - went back to the dentists after 6 weeks and he re-checked the height of the fillings by having me bite down on a sheet of graphite-like material. He shaved them down a bit until there no more marks. Took him several times.

He explained that when there is a high spot on the filling it acts as a pressure point on the tooth that radiates out to the sides and bottom where nerves lie. The harder down you bite (or the harder the food) the more noticeable the pain.

Edited by hypnotoad, 07 June 2010 - 05:31 AM.