Your new fillings will be fully hardened before you even leave the office, however, you may experience numbness in your lips, teeth, and tongue for several hours due to the anesthetic.
As part of your dental aftercare treatment, try to avoid chewing until the numbness has completely worn off or chew on the opposite side of the newly placed filling(s) as it’s easy to accidentally bite (or burn) your tongue or lip. You may also experience sensitivity to pressure and/or hot and cold food or beverages—this may linger for a few weeks but will fade over time. If you feel soreness, tenderness, or discomfort at the anesthetic injection sites, you may take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
When using local anesthetic, it’s very common to have an incorrect bite following a filling placement as the numbness may prevent you from feeling whether or not your bite is even. If your bite feels uneven after the numbness subsides, please call our office and we’ll get you in as soon as possible to correct it.
Please call if you have any questions or concerns!
*Do not take over-the-counter pain medications if you have a medical condition which prevents you from doing so or are allergic.
