Why do teeth become sensitive after dental fillings?
Dec 16, 2020
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Tian Meiyu
Introduction
Why do teeth become sensitive after dental filling?
1. Irritation and pressure from the filling material can cause tooth sensitivity or soreness.
2. The etchant used during the procedure demineralizes dentin, potentially leading to pulp sensitivity and hyperemia, which may result in tooth sensitivity or pain.
If symptoms are severe, pulp capping or pulp protection may be required.
Tooth sensitivity following dental restoration commonly occurs under two circumstances:
1. During the restorative procedure, carious dentin must be removed and mechanical cavity preparation performed according to the tooth’s condition. This preparation may inadvertently place the restoration too close to the pulp chamber, resulting in tooth sensitivity or pain due to material-induced irritation or pressure. In such cases, the standard management involves removing the restoration, applying a pulp-capping agent and base material, and then re-restoring the tooth—thereby resolving the sensitivity.
2. Following cavity preparation—particularly when using light-cured restorative materials—acid etching is often required. Although etchants are ideally applied only to enamel, clinically it is difficult to precisely confine etchant application exclusively to enamel without inadvertently affecting dentin. If dentin becomes etched, it may provoke pulp sensitivity and hyperemia, leading to postoperative tooth sensitivity.
In many such cases, no specific intervention is required. However, if symptoms are severe, pulp capping or indirect pulp capping may be indicated. Should irreversible pulpitis develop, root canal treatment should be considered.
