Helpful Tips After You’ve Gotten A Composite Filling
If you’ve had a composite filling, we recommend that you follow some basic homecare instructions to help reduce pain and swelling. After your composite filling procedure you should:
- Refrain from drinking hot beverages
- Avoid chewing until the numbness has worn off
- Take Ibuprofin or Tylenol to control tenderness
Following your filling treatment, if an anesthetic has been used, your lips, tongue, and cheek may be numb for several hours after the treatment.
Avoid chewing and hot beverages until the numbness has completely worn off. It is very easy to bite or burn your lip and tongue while you are numb.
It is normal to experience some hot, cold & pressure sensitivity after your treatment.
Injection sites may also be sore. Over the counter ibuprofen (800mg every 4-6 hours as needed for pain) or extra strength Tylenol (2 tablets every 4-6 hours as needed for pain) works well to alleviate the discomfort. Once the numbness is completely worn off, if you feel that the filled tooth come into contact prior to the rest of the teeth contact, please let our office know. You may need a filling adjustment. Failure to get this adjusted may cause extreme sensitivity or pain.
You may chew with your composite (tooth colored) fillings as soon as the anesthetic completely wears off, since they are fully set when you leave the office.
If you have lingering symptoms or pain, please contact us as soon as possible. Thank you for trusting Alderwood Family Dental in Lynwood, WA, with your dental care.
