How Long Does It Take for A Deep Filling to Settle Down?
What Is a Filling in Dentistry?
Dental fillings in Smithtown, NY, are materials that dentists use to repair and rebuild damaged tooth structures. They entail different materials, ranging from gold and silver to composite and porcelain. A dental filling works by replacing the damaged portion of a tooth structure, restoring its functionality.
A dentist near you is likely to recommend a tooth filling if you have any of the following dental problems:
- A dental cavity – tooth decay is a prevalent oral problem in dentistry among children and adults alike. A tooth cavity features a hole in your tooth enamel that creates access to the inner layers of a tooth. Dentists use dental fillings to repair cavities and disallow bacteria from causing pulpal damage.
- A tooth fracture – a chip, crack or break can cause functional and aesthetic problems to your natural teeth. One of the ways to treat a tooth fracture is through dental fillings near you.
- An endodontic procedure – entails treating the insides of a tooth through treatment protocols like Apicoectomy and root canal therapy. After an endodontist Smithtown procedure, dentists prefer placing dental fillings over teeth to seal them while protecting the tooth canal.
What Is the Procedure for Getting a Filling?
Getting dental fillings can be an uncomfortable experience because the procedure is slightly invasive. Therefore, your dentist will begin your treatment by numbing your mouth with local anesthesia. Afterward, the dentist will start cleaning your tooth by removing any damaged portion of the tooth enamel. Dental experts typically use a cavity detector to identify the extent of the damage for thorough cleaning. What follows is a meticulous process of filling the tooth with an ideal material based on your preferences. After filling the tooth, your dentist will use a laser to harden the material, bonding it to your natural tooth structure.
How Long Should You Wait for the Filling to Settle?
Different filling materials settle at different paces. The types of dental fillings in dentistry are:
- Gold fillings
- Silver fillings – also called amalgams.
- Composite fillings
- Porcelain fillings
Generally, dental experts suggest that it takes about 24 hours for a filling to settle down. The stakes are higher for metal-based dental fillings like amalgams or gold fillings. However, the types of dental fillings behave differently. Composite fillings usually settle immediately after hardening with lasers or a blue UV light. Still, your dentist may recommend waiting at least 2 hours before engaging in any oral functions that may disrupt your composite filling.
Other factors that affect the speed of settling dental fillings are the severity and size of the filling. The bigger and deeper a dental filling is, the more time it needs to settle. In about 24 hours, your tooth filling should reach maximum strength. Still, you may feel some sensitivity during the first few days post-treatment.
Can You Eat After Getting Dental Fillings?
Getting a dental filling should not have you fasting for days in fear of discomfort. For types of fillings like composites, you can eat as soon as two to three hours after your treatment. For other types, you may need to wait a little longer. However, dentists agree on certain guidelines to help you eat comfortably soon after a dental filling procedure. Instead of going on a hunger strike because of a restorative treatment, consider the following guidelines:
- Eat soft foods – your first meals should be soft because they are easy to consume. Patients with deep fillings may need to stay on soft meals for the first three days after getting them.
- Chew away from the treated tooth – there is no need to aggravate your treated tooth when you can chew on the opposite side. At Joseph B Pantaleo DDS, we encourage our patients to leave the treated tooth undisturbed long enough for it to settle. Besides, the best way to enjoy your food is when you are not overly concerned about sensitivity, tenderness, or soreness.
- Avoid hard foods altogether – even after your dental filling has settled, avoid over-exerting your teeth with hard foods. Besides, dental fillings can crack and get damaged, too, if you are not careful.