What happens if a filling is too deep? If you have undergone a deep filling and are experiencing pain, it may be that the filling has reached a nerve and has irritated it. The nerve should heal itself, but if pain or sensitivity does not subside within two to four weeks, dental intervention may be required.
If the filling is too close to the nerve, it may get infected slowly. Dentists can't predict the time frame for the tooth to become infected. If infected, you may experience a throbbing pain or a dental abscess.
Can dental anaesthesia cause nerve damage? Although rare, persistent and sometimes permanent nerve damage can occur after dental injections and anaesthesia. Temporary nerve damage is more common, and it usually improves within a few days or weeks.
Injury to the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) and lingual nerves (LN) during dental and oral surgery procedures is an uncommon complication, but understanding the management of the injury is important. Damage to either nerve can lead to numbness and pain of the lip, mucosa and tongue, as well as loss of taste.
Here are some of the most common signs of tooth nerve pain: A dull ache along the gum line. Pain that targets a single tooth or radiates throughout the mouth. Discomfort that worsens after eating, especially following meals that are hot, cold, or acidic.
An atypical odontalgia sufferer feels aching pain in a tooth without the presence of an identifiable problem. Oral nerve injury caused by trauma during medical or dental procedures is marked by constant pain, aching, burning, numbness or tingling in the mouth, tongue or lip.
With treatment, dental nerve damage can heal in six to eight weeks. If, however, the effects last more than six months, then it is considered permanent nerve damage. Depending on the cause of injury, there are various treatments that may be applied to treat dental nerve damage.
Results. Exposure of peripheral nerves to local anesthetics may result in axonal damage, particularly if the solution is injected intrafascicularly, if the concentration is high, and if duration of exposure is prolonged.
At times, the damage opens up the pulp chamber, which contains the tooth's blood vessels and nerves. Such damage might be accompanied by pain and bleeding. It also leaves the tooth susceptible to infection. This type of severe damage to a tooth counts as a dental emergency and requires immediate treatment.
Damage to branches of the trigeminal nerve following maxillofacial surgery and dental treatment is unfortunately common, in most cases the symptoms are transient and patients fully recover sensation over time.
Injuries to the inferior alveolar nerve and the lingual nerve can be caused by injections of local anesthetic, and they can be severe and debilitating. Studies show that the estimated occurrence is somewhere between 1 in 26,762 and 1 in 800,000.
Some of these include sensitivity to hot or cold food or beverages, an uneven surface, cracking, chipping, or decay around the filling, a broken tooth again, shifting of a tooth's position, or a change in the color of a tooth after it has been filled.
An inflamed nerve
If your dentist has performed a deep filling, it's possible it got close to the nerve resulting in discomfort or sensitivity. This sensation should heal as your nerve heals. It could take a few days or a few weeks, but it should improve rather than get worse.
An Irritated Nerve
Sometimes the filling can come close to the nerve ending and cause some irritation. However, as the tooth heals, the throbbing pain and sensitivity will slowly go away.
Nerve Damage Does Not Heal Itself…
When symptoms are minor and the root of the tooth is exposed, a dental filling is considered by the dentist. Where the symptoms are major, root canal treatment is required. Either way, consult the dentist for emergency treatment as soon as you can.
It's important to get medical care for a peripheral nerve injury as soon as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment may prevent complications and permanent damage.
Commonly injured nerves include the ulnar nerve (28%), brachial plexus (20%), lumbosacral root (16%), and spinal cord (13%). Injury is less common for the sciatic, median, radial and femoral nerves.
Root canal therapy
If an infected tooth impacts the tooth's nerve, the dentist can perform a root canal to remove the decay or infection. The dentist drills through the tooth and removes all damaged or infected nerves and pulp from the tooth. Next, the tooth is cleaned, disinfected, and sealed to prevent re-infection.
Have you ever experienced a zinging sensation in filled teeth when you bite down? If so, you may be experiencing galvanic shock. This term refers to the electrochemical reaction between two dental restorations made from different materials. Galvanic shock doesn't occur very often, these days.
This is a normal occurrence after undergoing oral procedures such as tooth removal or cavity fillings. Sensitivity occurs because the nerves inside the tooth swell after the dental procedure.
Any sensitivity from a tooth filling should be expected to go away quickly, at least within two to four weeks. But just because it should not hurt or be sensitive, doesn't mean that it can't sometimes occur.
Sometimes the pain feels more intense at night. This is thought to be because blood rushes to the head while one is lying down. Lingering pain could indicate an issue with the filling. The tooth might be more damaged than the dentist had originally thought.
If you have had a cavity filling that you feel has been done improperly, your dentist may be liable for failure to fulfill their duty of care to you.