Does anyone know how long a tooth can hurt after you get a filling? I had a cavity filled 2 months ago and the tooth still hurts. The dentist told me the cavity was close to the nerve and it could be sensitive for awhile. The tooth has been aching everyday since I got the filling and is sensitive to temperatures. I went back to the dentist a few weeks ago and he took some of the filling off in case it was making my bite off and he said the filling looked okay, but he didn’t take an x-ray. I am worried I am headed for a root canal. Advise anyone?

Hi Alex,

It's not unusual for a newly filled tooth to be sensitive to cold temperature for several weeks or so. If the tooth is sensitive to hot temperature and/or is aching every day for no reason, then there could be something going on with the nerve. An xray may be helpful in diagnosing the problem.

If the xray shows up clear and the filling/bite has been adjusted so all of your back teeth are hitting at the same time.... then redoing the filling may be helpful.

If it ends up that there is a problem with the tooth, then ask the dentist what your replacement options would be if you chose to remove the tooth rather than do a root canal in it. It's always best to be well informed prior to making a decision.

Hope this info helps... let us know how you're doing!
Bryanna

Thanks Bryanna for the advise. You were very helpful earlier this year when I had to have my front tooth pulled and get a dental implant. That should be completely finished at the end of January.

Hopefully this tooth won't end up like the front tooth.

I've got the same issue. It's been probably at least 4 months now, and still periodically get a zinging pain when chewing. I also sometimes feel a mild ache in the jaw in that area. I'm worried the dentist didn't do the filling properly and I'll end up needing a root canal. I went back once, and same as your dentist, all she did was a little bit of occlusal adjustment, no x-ray. It did seem to help some, but I don't know, maybe I'm just getting used to it. This is the first I've ever had a tooth still hurt after getting a cavity filled.

Wow, I know this reply is a bit out of date but I know what you are going thru. I went to a new dentist for my annual exam - they found five cavities?? Within a year after 10 years of none? Should have been a red flag.
This woman dentist - new to me - did the upper in the back in March, 2011 and it is still painful only when biting down. I called them and they redid the bite immediately after but it is still painful. I don't trust them anymore and I still have two cavities.

hey i know what u are going through i went to my dentist on friday to fill a teeth and all now i am having nerve pain.

I think you need to go back to your dentist, may be the filling is too high i am going through the same problem here i did a filling on friday and all now my nerves is hurting me.

How are you doing?

Not sure, but four weeks seems like a long time.

My experience, and from what I'm reading from others, dentists either are ignorant about nerve damage, in denial or something else....So, don't expect your dentist to necessarily inform you about the potential risk of nerve damage.

I had a cavity filled in March 2010. I had not had pain before the cavity was filled. I went to the dentist days later to report the pain.

Until now, the dentist has filed the filling to adjust the bite. He has taken the filling out and completely cleaned the tooth and refilled it.

Xrays show no damage or other issue with the tooth. Yet, he can not explain the pain I am experiencing.

I had a filing with a new dentist recently. It was a bit frightening, because my previous dentists were..... And I have permanent nerve damage now.

Anyway, the dentist really took her time, put "medicine" on the tooth,etc. I had some light pain for about four days and then it went completely away.

I'm not sure how long a new filing might hurt. But be careful. If the X-rays look good, then it very well might not be a dental issue. Perhaps you just need extra time to heal. If it persists without explanation, see another dentist and a neurologist for some ideas. Don't let the new dentist do anything unless he or she has an excellent, clear cut reason to do so...proceed with extreme caution.

Hope all is just fine.