What sort of pain is normal after a filling?

[Itsthefinal]

Posting here for traffic.. I had 5 (!) done today in one appointment. (After a clean bill of health 6 months ago..)

It was pretty hellish - two on the left lower which are absolutely fine, one on the right upper and two right lower. The upper one is throbbing, and the one directly below it is pretty tender too. I’m sure it isn’t helping that they are touching every time I close my mouth.

Is this normal pain? She said to expect some sensitivity, but not aching necessarily.. I have never needed fillings so these are my first at the ripe age of 32.

I guess it’s..
YABU - it’s normal and will pass
YANBU - not normal

I had quite a major filling done recently and when the numbness wore off had no pain at all.

How can you have gone from a clean bill of health six months ago to five fillings today? That seems crazy.

@SeaAndStars its a new dentist, my old one didn’t see any issues. Moved to a new one as we moved house, they did X-rays and said I needed 5! It was a shock.

Shouldn't be more than a mild ache afterwards, that is gone within 36 hrs.
Were any of the filings quite deep?

It did feel like she drilled quite deep. Im going to take some painkillers and see how I get on the next couple of days..

Crikey I think I would have got a second opinion.

I had a deep filling ... reached the nerve & I needed root canal instead, as next step to saving that tooth... which RC sadly is now failing so we are just waiting for the point when the whole thing will need to come out (but it lasted about 15 yrs at least). I can't recall what pain relief I had between failed filing & root canal, but yeah, that's the only time I had significant pain after a filling.

I have A LOT of fillings, btw.

I had a dentist when I was young (1980s) who found no problems followed by "new young" dentist who said I needed ... maybe 10 fillings. I am pretty sure 'old dentist' just didn't bother with small fillings.

I did think Christ on a bike that’s sensitive when she was drilling, so maybe we just got a bit close to the nerve.

I was going to seek a second opinion, but when I had a good look I could see some cavities, so whether they just went downhill in the last 6 months or my previous dentist wasn’t overly fussed I’m not sure! Either way today was not a fun one!

Crikey that’s a lot to have in one hit. I’m surprised the dentist didn’t suggest doing it over 2 sessions. Did you have numbing? If so, they probably shouldn’t have numbed your whole mouth in one sitting and would have worked on one side only. They could have worked on the other side next time.

@Crazycatladywithnocats it was originally planned for 2 appointments, then when I went in today they said we’re doing them all today. They did numb my whole mouth! I felt like a walking balloon all afternoon.

I had a deep filling a few years ago and found it very unpleasant and was in pain for a few days afterwards. I have quite a high pain threshold but was crying with the discomfort.

I had years and years of not needing any but the dentist was just neglectful, I quite happily didn't question it as ahe said what I wanted to hear!

This. Sorry OP.

I think that would be too long for my jaw!

Any better today?

I had that when young and ended up needing remedial works which included root canal works. Other fillings no pain after a day.

Happy to report no pain today! Just sensitivity when eating and drinking, might actually lose a few lbs!