What is normal after a filling?

[goldjar]

My DD 8 had a filling today. She wasn't given any anesthetic and has been howling in pain since we left. I didn't expect her to enjoy it but was not prepared for this level of distress. The dentist dismissed her crying as shock as there was some blood, and I've since called the surgery who've assured me it's normal for it to be painful afterwards.

Is this really normal though? I thought fillings were unpleasant but didn't leave you in pain afterwards? The whole side of her face is painful and all teeth, not just the one that was drilled. I've never heard her cry like this before and it's not getting better with calpol.

She loved going to the dentist up until now too, hopped onto the chair eagerly, Now she's crying how much she hates it and is never going back.

And we're going on holiday tomorrow obviously. Any tips/advice on how best to help her?

Totally normal (I've had in excess of 20 fillings... Its a family trait to have awful teeth).
Just keep giving her painkillers and it does eventually settle down

Why on earth didn't they give pain relief beforehand? That's a sure fire way to put kids off the dentist, especially if she was bleeding

And give ibuprofen too

I'm surprised she didn't have a painkilling injection! And that level of pain doesn't sound normal. I usually have the injection (cocaine?) and the face is numb afterwards but no pain. I certainly wouldn't be going back to that surgery!

I've had a few fillings, some with anaesthetic and some without. If a filling is minor enough not to require any anaesthetic, she shouldn't be in this much pain now.

The fillings that leave you in pain are usually the ones where you do have anaesthetic and then end up in pain when it wears off -= they can be quite grim. But little 'pin' fillings where you don't need a painkilling jab first are usually a breeze.

I'm wondering whether the dentist accidentally made contact with a nerve when they were drilling.

I suspect it will settle down soon with painkillers, but she has my sympathy as she must feel rotten, bless her.

Often children don't need anaesthetic for fillings, because it doesn't hurt. Baby teeth are different to adult teeth.

I wouldn't expect a child to be howling in pain afterwards, especially if it could be done without aneasthetic. I would want to see a child in that much pain again.

I had a few as a kid and never painful ever! If she’s 8 can she take something a bit stronger than calpol? Poor poor babe

It's not normal in my experience. My middle child has problem with the enamel on his teeth and I think all his molars have been filled. He's never ever been in pain afterwards.

My youngest (6) had 3 fillings a few months ago and didn’t have anything to numb his gum, thankfully they were small fillings and didn’t cause to much pain. If calpol isn’t easing her discomfort I would definitely try ibuprofen as this will also reduce any swelling. Hope she feels better soon x

@Singlenotsingle can I have the name of your dentist?

Discomfort after is normal but not to the extent of howling in pain.

Awful I can’t believe they haven’t given her any anaesthetic. Poor girl. Try getting some Calgel tomorrow from the pharmacy. It’s used for baby teething but it has lidocaine in it which is a numbing agent similar to what the dentist should have used. Hope she feels better soon

@Singlenotsingle wow your dentist sounds fab