Metal Mouth Message Board

Not exactly an ortho question but I had a cavity filled a week ago, and now I've noticed that it still is slightly painful. Especially when I eat something cold like ice cream. There has been a high pollen count in our area and my sinuses are right along my gum line-could this be contributing to the pain and pressure on that tooth? I was just wondering since I am getting braced in 2 days if this would have an effect on my tooth as well.

Thanks Meryaten. I think a lot of it has to do with the sinuses. I feel as if I am coming down with a cold. I ate some ice cream yesterday afternoon and the cold bothered that tooth, but not as long as before. So I think it has a little sensitivity as well.

I had a filling filled with a white composite substance (instead of the silver) and it's very sensitive and I asked about it and the dentist told me that white composites can be sensitive for up to a year!!! They look better on the teeth but for some reason take longer to get rid of the sensitivity!

I also had pain in a tooth with a filling after my spacers were removed. He said it's normal.

I had a very painful experience after some recent fillings, and did a little research...
Maybe the fillings were built up to high, causing the sensitivity? The symptoms seem to develop a few days after the filling due to your bite being off. A call to the dentist probably wouldn't hurt!

yeah at only 1 week into my braces my bites completely off where it wasn't before!! It's annoying.

A restoration that is in hyperocclusion ("Too high") can cause post op sensitivity. But it is usually quite noticeable, it will probably be more than annoying or even unbearable. Post op sensitivity from a tooth colored filling typically comes from either etching too long. This can be minimized with newer etch/prime/bond materials that are self limiting. But some clinicians use the old fashioned phosphoric acid approach and there is nothing wrong with it. If the dentin is etched too long it can cause symptoms that will subside over time. It could also be a very deep filling that is irritating the nerve or potentially under polymerized material under the filling. The moral of the story is that post op sensitivity happens, and there is nothing wrong with following up if you are uncomfortable.

Best,
Rory