At a glance
After a tooth-colored filling, you can eat once the numbness wears off, usually within a few hours. Mild sensitivity to cold or biting pressure is common for a few days and can last a few weeks for deeper fillings. If your bite feels high or uneven, call us — a quick adjustment usually fixes it.
What should I do after getting a filling?
- Wait until the numbness is gone before eating or drinking anything hot, so you don’t bite or burn your cheek, lip or tongue.
- Our fillings are composite (tooth-colored) and are hardened with a curing light before you leave, so you don’t need to wait hours to use the tooth.
- If the tooth is sensitive, avoid very cold, very hot or sugary foods for a few days.
- For soreness, follow the directions on the package or from your dentist.
- Brush and floss as normal. A toothpaste for sensitive teeth can help if cold sensitivity lingers.
- Pay attention to your bite. If your teeth hit on the filling first, call us.
What is the recovery timeline after a filling?
| Stage | What to expect | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| First 24 hours | Numbness for a few hours; the gum near the tooth may feel sore | Eat once numbness wears off; soft foods if the area is tender |
| Days 2–7 | Some sensitivity to cold or pressure is common and fading | Sensitive toothpaste, avoid extremes of temperature, check your bite |
| When it’s healed | The tooth feels normal; deep fillings can take a few weeks to settle | Regular checkups so we can watch the filling and the tooth around it |
Why does my bite feel off after a filling?
While you are numb, it is hard to feel exactly how your teeth come together. If a filling sits slightly high, your teeth hit there first, and the tooth can become sore when you chew. This doesn’t fix itself. A short visit to smooth the filling down usually solves it right away.
Is sensitivity normal after a filling?
Yes, some is. The deeper the cavity was, the more likely the tooth is to feel cold or pressure for a while. It should get better week by week. Sensitivity that gets worse, a lingering ache after something cold, or pain that wakes you up can mean the nerve is irritated, and we should check it. Our article tooth-colored dental fillings: what to expect covers this in more detail.
| Usually normal | Call us |
|---|---|
| Brief sensitivity to cold that fades quickly | Pain that lingers after cold or heat, or wakes you at night |
| Sore gum near the filling for a day or two | Your bite feels high or uneven |
| Mild tenderness when biting that improves | A sharp edge, or the filling chips or falls out |
When to call us
Call (832) 612-2831 if your bite feels high, sensitivity is getting worse after the first week, you have a throbbing or lingering ache, or the filling feels rough or broken. We’re open Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, 9am–3pm.
Frequently asked questions
As soon as the numbness wears off. The filling is already hardened when you leave. Start with softer food if the tooth is tender.
No. We place tooth-colored composite fillings only. If you already have older silver fillings, we can check them at your visit. See our dental fillings page.
It depends on the size of the filling, your bite and your habits. Our guide on how long fillings last explains what affects it.
Back to all aftercare guides.