Is it normal to have pain after filling a cavity?

Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
Updated on September 02, 2024
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Mild pain after filling a cavity is normal. This is often seen when glass ionomer materials are used for fillings. Glass ionomer materials expand in volume within 24 hours of mixing, which can stimulate the dental nerves and cause pain. However, the pain should gradually decrease or disappear after 24 hours. If there is severe pain after the filling, it may be due to the filling material being too high or the tooth decay being too deep, reaching the dental nerves and causing nerve pain. This situation is abnormal and requires root canal treatment.

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What is the reason for black dental caries?

Cavity prevalence is quite high, especially in children who haven't developed good oral hygiene habits and consume a lot of sweets, making them prone to cavities. Early detection is thus very important. Early symptoms of cavities are not obvious, but with careful observation, one can notice parts of the teeth turning black. This is due to bacterial erosion and damage to the teeth. Damage occurs to the enamel and dentin of the teeth. If this continues to develop, it can lead to damage to the dental pulp, resulting in pulpitis. Therefore, when you notice your teeth turning black, it is crucial to seek timely treatment to prevent the progression to pulpitis.

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Can you get your teeth cleaned if you have cavities?

Cavities can also be treated with teeth cleaning. Firstly, a cavity is a type of dental caries, a tooth condition caused by tissue infection. Generally, it is accompanied by pain. Teeth cleaning is needed when there is a significant build-up of tartar around the teeth, which if not promptly cleaned, can lead to gingivitis and even periodontitis, potentially causing tooth loss. During cavities, teeth cleaning can be performed. However, teeth cleaning involves ultrasonic removal of tartar around the teeth. If the cavities are deep, the cleaning process may cause discomfort or severe pain. Therefore, it is necessary to treat the cavities first before proceeding with teeth cleaning to avoid significant pain during the cleaning process.

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Does removing a cavity-affected tooth have any impact?

Cavities, also commonly referred to as tooth decay, can impact daily life depending on the situation. Generally, if the cavity is not severe, extraction is not necessary, and treatment should be attempted if possible. However, extraction can be harmful, as it creates a gap. The teeth adjacent to this gap can be affected, leading to tilting towards the gap or becoming loose, which may impact how the teeth come together when biting. The body has a protective mechanism that can automatically close this space, but although this closes the gap, it may destabilize the overall bite alignment and function, potentially affecting the temporomandibular joint function. Therefore, if tooth decay occurs, it is advised to seek prompt treatment at a formal dental hospital or a major hospital’s dental pulp department, where the decayed and necrotic tissue can be removed and the cavity filled to restore the shape of the tooth crown and some of the biting function.

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Do early-stage cavities need to be treated?

Cavities refer to the chronic, progressive destructive disease of the hard tissues of the teeth under the influence of plaque bacteria. For early-stage carious white spots, fluorides, fluoride toothpaste, or topical fluoride application can be used to halt the progression of cavities at that stage and prevent further development. Inactive caries can be effectively prevented and treated by brushing and rinsing. If not taken seriously, the cavity will continue to develop deeper, which can be classified into superficial, moderate, and deep caries. After the occurrence of cavities, patients may experience pain from thermal stimuli and pain from food impaction. When the stimuli are removed, the pain disappears. Cavities need treatment. If left untreated, they can lead to pulpitis, periapical periodontitis, and even result in tooth loss. Thus, early-stage caries should be adequately attended to, with an emphasis on early detection and treatment of cavities.

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Can cavities be detected in an X-ray?

In clinical practice, not all cavities require X-rays, nor can all cavities be detected through X-rays. The purpose of taking X-rays is to understand the depth of the cavity and the distance between the cavity and the dental nerve. Some cavities occur on the surfaces between teeth which cannot be seen with the naked eye; in these cases, X-rays can provide a clear diagnosis. However, early-stage cavities only involve changes in the enamel, showing as chalky changes or small black dots and lines on the tooth surface. For these superficial changes, X-rays will not show any abnormalities. Therefore, it is important to maintain oral hygiene by brushing teeth morning and evening, and rinsing after meals to detect and treat cavities early, to prevent other complications.