Post Op Instructions - Fillings

Information Following Amalgam (Silver) or Composite (Tooth Colored) Fillings

• Do not bite together hard or eat on newly placed amalgam fillings for 2 to 3 hours. Composite fillings set up hard right away.

• Children should be observed until the anesthetic wears off. Due to the strange feeling of anesthetic, many children will chew the inside of their lips, cheeks or tongue which can cause serious damage.

• Sensitivity, especially to cold, is common for a few days following a dental restoration. Usually, the deeper the cavity, the more sensitive the tooth will be.

• Sensitivity is generally most noticeable the first 12 to 24 hours after anesthetic wears off.

• The gum tissue could have been irritated during the procedure and may be sore for a few days. In addition, the anesthetic injection site may also be sore for a few days.

• 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.