Is That Normal? What to Know After a Dental Treatment

It's always nice to know that your dental procedure is over. You can now get back to your normal routine again knowing that you've done the right thing when it comes to keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Unfortunately, some dental treatments and procedures can leave behind some troubling side-effects. To get more information about what is normal and when to call the dentist, read on.

Sensitivity Issues

If you thought a little ice cream would be a perfect treat after a procedure like a filing, you might have some regrets almost immediately. That is because your mouth may be more sensitive to both very cold and very warm temperature foods and drinks. Give your mouth a chance to return to its regular state before you taste things that are at the extreme end of the temperature scale. On a related note, be careful about eating hard or crunchy foods for a few days or so. You don't want to disturb any temporary or brand new dental work.

Pain and Discomfort

Most dental procedures should not cause you to experience a great deal of pain once the anesthesia wears off. If your procedure was more extensive or involved surgery, you might be instructed to take certain over-the-counter pain relievers or provided with a prescription in some cases. For pain that persists a few days after a filling, you might have an inflamed nerve and those can take a few days to calm down. If a week has gone by and you are still having to take pain relievers, speak to your dentist and have the filling checked over.

Numbness

This all-too-common but perfectly harmless side effect of dental procedures can be a bit disconcerting. It's often necessary for the dentist to numb groups of nerves to achieve a level of comfort for the patient during a procedure. Many will notice that they are unable to feel their lips and areas of the cheeks along with the inside the mouth and gums. If you've had several teeth filled or a more extensive procedure like a root canal, it can take several hours for things to get back to normal. If the numbness persists the next day, phone your dentist.

Nausea

Patients undergoing greater levels of sedation might experience a bit of nausea as the anesthesia wears off. This is a common but very uncomfortable reaction to certain medications. Stick to bland foods (e.g. no dairy, fried, or very fatty foods) for the remainder of the day and let your dentist know if you still feel ill the next day.

To learn more about dental treatment options, talk to your dentist.