Post-Op Instruction: Composite Restoration
- Sensitivity is usually most noticeable the first 12-24 hours after the anesthetic wears off.
- Sensitivity, especially to cold, is common for a few days following a dental filling. Usually
the deeper the cavity, the more sensitive the tooth may be.
- The gum tissue could have been irritated during the procedure and may be sore for a few days
together with the anesthetic injection site.
- The filling is fully set and ready to eat on when you leave the office. Please be careful eating
until the anesthetic wears off so you don’t bite your lips, cheeks, or tongue.
- Children should be observed until the anesthetic wears off. Due to the strange feeling of the
anesthetic, many children will chew the inside of their lips, cheeks, or tongue which can cause
serious damage.
- The finished restoration may be contoured slightly different and have a different texture than
the original tooth. Your tongue usually magnifies this small difference, but you will become
accustomed to this in a few days.
- If after a week or two, your teeth feel they do not touch correctly please call the office. This
problem can be solved with a quick adjustment to the filling.
- Fillings do not last forever. Like a new set of tires, fillings can wear and breakdown. Proper
brushing and flossing is recommended to help you retain your fillings. Having your teeth cleaned
every six months and an exam and x-rays every year will help prolong the life of your fillings.