Dental Fillings

After you receive a filling, anesthesia will begin to wear off in approximately 30 minutes to an hour. Until that time, avoid all hot foods or liquids and do not chew on anything. This will prevent accidental burning or biting of your lips, cheeks, or tongue.

Fillings are either composite, alloy, or a glass ionomer. Dr. Pointer can tell you which type of filling you received.

• A Glass Ionomer is a tooth colored material, and very seldom does a patient experience sensitivity with this material. If you notice any unusual symptoms, please call the office.
• A Composite is a non-metal, tooth-colored material. You may experience some minor sensitivity to temperature and pressure for a few days. If your filling was especially large, you may experience some sensitivity for a week or two. If you do experience any symptoms that seem unusual, please let us know. A simple adjustment of your bite may be necessary.
• An Alloy, or silver filling, can be sensitive to cold and biting pressure for several days. Do not bite anything hard for 24 hours following the procedure. If sensitivity persists for more than a week, call the office and let us know. An adjustment of your bite may be necessary.

If you have pain after a week or two, your tooth may require more than just a filling – which means a crown may be necessary. In this situation, please call our Fort Worth, TX dental office to schedule a follow-up exam at your convenience.