Tag Archives: white fillings hurt

Sedation Dentistry

New cavities after pregnancy and my fillings hurt

I am writing about an increase in cavities and pain after new fillings. My third child was born in December 2020. And within a few months, I began feeling severe pain whenever I ate anything sweet. When I went to the dentist, she found two cavities. My dentist placed composite fillings. In March, after my dental appointment, my dentist found four more cavities. Two fillings are fine, but I still have pain when chewing with the other two.  My teeth ache sometimes. My dentist checked by bite, which she says is fine. She offered to replace the fillings. And she mentioned that the teeth might be cracked. Why would formerly healthy teeth be cracked? I had no issues before delivering my baby in December, and now I have multiple cavities that seem to be increasing. I brush my teeth at least twice daily and at least once daily. Why is this happening? Do I need to find a dentist who specializes in fillings? But aren’t fillings basic treatment? My anxiety is increasing with so many dental appointments. Thanks in advance for your suggestions. Kashvi from GA

Kashvi,

Although filling teeth is not a specialty, your dentist’s technique with composite fillings might be faulty. Dr. Lacy would need to examine your teeth and fillings, but we can offer some insight.

Pregnancy and Cavities

Pregnant women can experience tooth decay and cavities for several reasons:

  • Hormonal changes – As your hormones fluctuate, it can increase the risk of gum disease. And gum infection can promote tooth decay and lead to more cavities.
  • Increased eating – Some women eat more during pregnancy. Frequent eating or snacking increases bacteria on teeth and promotes decay. Rinse your mouth well after eating and brush your teeth more frequently—but not excessively.
  • Morning sickness – Stomach acid from vomiting can erode tooth enamel. Rinse your mouth well and drink plenty of water.

Pain When Chewing on a New Filling

If you have pain when chewing—not biting—on a new filling, it is usually a problem with how the dentist bonded the filling. Your pain will probably resolve if a dentist removes the fillings and bonds them properly. But take care of it promptly. Pain when biting on a new filling would have a different cause.

Pain with Multiple Tooth Fillings

Photo of female patient sitting and relaxing in a dental chair, for information on sedation dentistry from Plano female dentist, Dr. Miranda Lacy.
Ask your dentist about sedation options

When multiple tooth fillings are painful, your dentist does not understand how to place or bond the filling completely. Amalgam fillings are easier to place than white fillings and require less skill. But composite fillings require advanced training to place and bond so they will last without causing discomfort.

Many dental schools still teach students to place amalgam fillings on back teeth. After dental school, a dentist must pursue continuing education to understand composite bonding and do it well. But some dentists try to use the techniques they learned for amalgam fillings when placing composite fillings. And it just does not work.

Schedule a Second Opinion

Look for a cosmetic dentist with advanced cosmetic dentistry training. Check a few dentists’ websites for their credentials. After a consultation and examination, a cosmetic dentist will explain your options for replacing or re-bonding your fillings and relieving your pain. If your anxiety level remains high, speak with the dentist about your options for sedation.

Miranda Lacy, DDS, a Plano, TX female dentist, sponsors this post.

Sedation Dentistry

What Causes Pain After New White Fillings? And How to Resolve It

I need to find a dentist who is skilled at restoring cavities and who is willing to sedate me while I’m getting the work done. Although cavities haven’t been a problem for me in the past, it started after I had my baby in February 2019. Last July, I went to the dentist in severe pain. I had six cavities that the dentist filled at a second appointment. When I returned to the dentist in February of this year, I had two more cavities. One of the two most recent white fillings on a molar tooth is painful when I chew on it. My dentist checked my bite and said it looks good. She offered to remove the filling and replace it. She said that the tooth might have a crack, and she can x-ray it. If it’s cracked, I need root canal treatment.

I decided to wait and do nothing because I don’t understand why I’m having so many problems with my teeth. Meanwhile, the tooth with the possible crack hurts when I floss around it, and it hurts to chew on that side of my mouth. Within the past two weeks, when I’m chewing, I sometimes feel a dull pain in two of the first six fillings that I received. They are molar teeth also. I’ve had some post-partum stress, and this situation is making it worse. I didn’t have dental anxiety before, but I’ve decided that I need to switch dentists and find one who is willing to sedate me to figure out what’s happening with my teeth. I’m not sure if I need a cosmetic dentist, but I would like some advice on finding a dentist who knows if I have more cavities and how to do white fillings correctly.  Thank you. Gabrielle

Gabrielle

Sedation dentistry can make getting new fillings easier

We understand your concern about your dentist’s technique with composite fillings. You described pain when you chew. When and where you feel pain will help a second-opinion dentist determine what’s causing the problem. Look for a dentist with training in cosmetic and sedation dentistry. Ask friends or family members for a cosmetic dentist—not a general dentist. If you don’t get any recommendations, search online, and read each dentist’s bio to determine if they have post-graduate training.

How to Resolve Pain After Getting Composite Fillings on Back Teeth

Pain when chewing, not clenching – Usually, pain while chewing results form improperly bonding the filling to your tooth. A cosmetic dentist with advanced training in composite fillings will remove the filling and replace it using proper bonding techniques.

Composite fillings on front vs. back teeth – Some dentists who place composite fillings don’t have advanced training in the technique. They rely on what they learned in dental school for placing composite fillings on front teeth. But the method for back teeth is not the same. It’s essential to find a dentist who has training in composite filling techniques.

Plano, TX female dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy sponsors this post.