Fillings are used to fill cavities in teeth. From time to time, patients will leave an appointment with a high filling. After a day or two of noticing that a filling is too high, patients could develop discomfort or pain due to a high filling. Usually, we can determine the appropriate height of a filling before sending patients on their way. If you’re experiencing pain following a dental visit where a filling was placed, it could easily be treated. Des Moines dentist, Dr. Stephen Burds, discusses how to treat high fillings, and why high fillings hurt.

Why Does a High Filling Hurt?

When a high filling is placed on a tooth, it causes unnecessary contact between teeth. Most patients will be able to feel that their bite is noticeably off from their normal dentition. As the high filling comes into contact with teeth, pain results in the periodontal ligament. Inflammation and tenderness of the periodontal ligament is what leads to patients experiencing pain from high fillings.

How to Stop Pain from a High Filling

In most cases, the high filling causing the inflammation and tenderness will need to be ground down by a dentist. Grounding down the high filling should eventually reduce the pain in the periodontal ligament. Typically pain subsides within a day or two. If pain and discomfort persist beyond two weeks, it could be a sign of additional oral health issues which need to be addressed. It might take a few days following the initial appointment when the filling was placed to notice any pain, so be alert to the previously discussed symptoms of high fillings.

Schedule Your Visit

Are you concerned that your tooth pain could be caused by a high filling? At Gateway Dental Group, we provide general, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry. Contact our 50309 dental office by calling (515) 344-4131 to schedule an appointment today. We welcome patients from Des Moines and all neighboring communities.