After Your Dental Filling

Numbness usually wears off in 2–4 hours. Be careful not to bite your cheek, tongue, or lip while you are still numb.

Avoid hot drinks and chewing on the treated side until feeling returns.

Watch children closely until feeling returns. They may chew or bite numb tissue without realizing it.

Mild sensitivity to temperature or pressure can last a few days. Deeper fillings may take longer to settle.

Sensitivity should ease rather than get stronger.

If sensitivity gets worse over time or wakes you at night, please call us. This can occasionally indicate the nerve needs additional attention.

Your composite (white) filling is fully hardened the moment you leave. Your bite should feel natural within a few hours once the numbness is gone.

If the filling feels "high" or like you are hitting it first when you bite down, please call us. We can check your bite and adjust the filling if needed.

An uneven bite can leave the tooth or jaw sore. Let us know rather than waiting for it to wear down.

You can eat and drink as soon as the numbness wears off.

For the first day, you may want to avoid very hot, very cold, or very hard foods if your tooth feels sensitive.

These are general adult doses unless your dentist or physician directs otherwise. Patients with medical conditions, medication allergies, pregnancy, or other medicines may need a different pain-relief plan. Check with your dentist, physician, or pharmacist before using these doses if any of these apply.

For adult soreness, take ibuprofen 400–600 mg every 6–8 hours as needed, with food, if directed by your dentist. Alternatively, acetaminophen (Tylenol) 500 mg may be used according to the package directions.

Combine or alternate these medicines only if your dentist or physician has given you a specific schedule.

Use doses above package directions only if your dentist or physician specifically instructed you to. Follow your prescription or the package directions for dose limits and how long to use the medicine. Do not take multiple products containing the same active ingredient.

A cold compress on the outside of your cheek can help if the area feels tender.