If you have had a filling placed, you may need to wait a while before chewing on the repaired tooth.
If you need a filling, you may be wondering what the recovery process involves. Fortunately, it won’t take long before you can eat as usual. However, you will need to wait a while before you can chew on the surface of your repaired tooth. The time that you should ideally wait will depend on what type of filling you have. Read on to find out more about the different types of available fillings and how long you should wait before resuming your usual diet…
What types of fillings are available?
The time you should wait before eating depends on the type of filling you have placed. If you choose to have an amalgam filling, you can expect to wait 24 hours for the material to harden fully. It is best to avoid chewing on the filling for at least 24 hours.
On the other hand, composite fillings harden immediately when the UV light is applied to your tooth. For this reason, it is often possible to eat as soon as your procedure is complete. You may, however, still feel numb from the local anaesthetic, in which case you should wait around two hours until you chew on your repaired tooth.
What other factors affect your ability to chew after a filling?
Besides waiting for your filling to harden, a few other factors can affect your ability to eat after the procedure. If you have had a local anaesthetic, it is best to wait until the numbing agent has completely worn off before you eat. If you chew while you are still numb, you run the risk of biting your tongue, lips or the inside of your cheek.
Once your filling procedure is complete, you may experience some discomfort and tenderness around the repaired tooth. This is completely normal, as the gum tissue sometimes become irritated while a filling is being placed. If you feel some discomfort, you may want to avoid chewing on this area until you have completely healed. You may also experience some sensitivity to hot and cold foods and drinks, so it is best to avoid these for a while.
How can we help?
At Somerset Dental Care, we offer composite fillings, a modern and safer alternative to amalgam fillings. Composite fillings are tooth-coloured and help to achieve a natural-looking appearance. They can be colour matched to blend in seamlessly with your natural teeth. They are made from a very strong and durable resin material and strengthen the affected tooth considerably.
If you would like to find out more about dental fillings at Somerset Dental Care, please have a look here.
If you would like to make an appointment to see us, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
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