Lots of people have at least one filling and if this applies to you then you probably remember your dentist asking you to bite down and munch on a piece of paper shortly after your filling was completed. This special paper leaves brightly colored marks on the teeth that tell the dentist where the filling is too high so they can gradually adjust it, bring it back into the correct occlusion with the rest of your teeth. By the time they finish, your teeth should bite together correctly.
Dental Filling Adjustment in Brooklyn
However since you are generally numb while trying to bite your teeth together, it can be really tricky to tell if a filling is too high and it’s often tempting to say it feels fine just so you can leave the dental office that bit sooner. That’s all very well, but what happens if after a few days you notice that the filling really is too high? Is it worth returning to have it adjusted?
If this is the case, then please contact your dentist at the Eco Dental so they can make the necessary adjustments to your filling. If you don’t, it can create an uneven bite which in the end may cause pain. This is because your teeth are attached to the bony sockets by periodontal ligaments. These are very small pieces of tissue that are sensitive to a change in pressure.
Problems that a High Filling Can Cause
If you are biting down on a filling that is too high, then you’ll be pressing down a lot harder on this tooth and over time the periodontal ligaments can become inflamed and tender. There’s also the risk that having a filling that’s too high could put too much pressure on another tooth and may even cause it to crack so you might need a dental crown later, particularly if it is already slightly weakened. Having a bite that is out of alignment may also cause problems with your jaw joints, causing them to become inflamed and painful and tender.
How to Fix a Filling That Is Too High
Adjusting a filling will only take your dentist a few moments and you’ll find they are more than happy to do that, particularly if it is causing you any sort of pain. It’s unlikely that you will need dental anesthetic so it’ll be much easier for you to tell your dentist if the dental filling still feels a bit too high after they have ground it down slightly. Once they have made the necessary adjustments, your bite should feel much more comfortable. If the periodontal ligament has become inflamed then it may take a few days or even a week or two for it to completely settle down. If you still feel any sort of pain after two weeks then book appointment to come and see us. There is always a reason for any sort of dental pain and we don’t want any of our patients to be in discomfort. The sooner you come in for treatment, the more easily we are able to resolve any problem and the less likely it is that it will develop into something much more serious.
