Immediately After Your Filling
- Numbness from anesthetic can last 2–4 hours. Be careful not to bite your lip, cheek, or tongue.
- Avoid chewing on the treated side until numbness is completely gone. Composite fillings harden in the chair, so you can eat carefully once numbness fades.
First 24–48 Hours
- Some sensitivity to cold, hot, or pressure is completely normal and usually improves within a few days to a couple of weeks.
- Avoid very hard or sticky foods (ice, hard candy, chewing gum) on the filled tooth.
- Brush and floss normally but be gentle around the new filling.
When to Contact Us
Call if you experience:
- Sharp or persistent pain when biting (the bite may need a quick adjustment)
- Sensitivity that worsens after several days instead of improving
- A filling that feels rough, high, or has fallen out
Problems after treatment
Problems after treatment, including a knocked-out tooth or swelling around one tooth, can be checked during regular office hours. emergency dental care in Fishers, emergency dental care in Carmel, or emergency dental care in North Indianapolis.
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