YOUR  NEW  DENTAL  RESTORATION

You have just had a surgical procedure performed, the following
information has been prepared to answer your questions about what
you can expect to happen.
Many people regard having a filling or dental restoration placed 
in a tooth as a sort of plug, that once placed should be an instant
solution to their problem.  Nothing could be further from the truth.
A tooth is not a solid object but a vulnerable tissue with one of 
the most sensitive and delicate nerve and blood supplies of the 
human body.  Thus when you have restorative work done it is 
unrealistic to expect immediate healing or total freedom from pain.
A study carried out in 1985, showed tha 80% of dental patients
experience some form of discomfort after a dental operation.
Just as a skin wound takes time to heal so will the tissues of your
tooth take time to recover from destruction of decay and the 
operative procedures that become necessary to repair it.
This article aims to help you care for your new restoration and 
inform you of what to expect whilst healing occurs.
* Important *
* The condition of your tooth before the restoration was carried out
has a great influence on the post operative period of recovery.

Small, shallow cavities are likely to be trouble free after 
restoration.

* Neglected teeth with deep cavities closer to the pulp or nerve are more
likely to be painful and slow to recover.

Pulp capping is required when decay reaches the nerve of the 
tooth.  There is more likelihood that discomfort will be 
experienced after such treatment.
Pulp capping is used as a last resort in the hope that the nerve
will recover from trauma and infection that has resulted from the
previous neglect. (see article on Pulp capping)
Teeth closer to the back of the mouth are more likely to be 
sensitive to bite problems because they are subjected to greater 
biting forces than the front teeth.

SOME  GENERAL  PRECAUTIONS

Avoid chewing with newly restored teeth at least until the local 
anaesthetic has worn off.  There is a danger of biting your tongue,
cheek or lips.
In general it is a good idea to wait for 24 hours before you start
chewing normally on a newly restored tooth.  This allows the support
tissues time to begin healing.
It may also be a good idea to take Panadol (or other analgesic)
before the local anaesthetic wears off.  Post treatment pain will
then be eliminated or minimised.

MY  BITE  DOES  NOT  FEEL  RIGHT!

Because you can detect a smaller discrepancy in the way your
teeth meet than a dentist is able to measure, a restoration may 
sometimes require a small adjustment after placement.  This is a
minor problem and will be checked at your next visit.
However, often swelling occurs under the tooth some hours after
the filling is placed, the tooth then protrudes a little higher
than normal.  The tooth with the new filling will therefore
interfere with the bite.  (Despite the dentist having made
every effort to see that the filling was in harmony with the 
bite before you left his office).
A return visit the following day may be necessary to correct
this problem.

THE  TOOTH  IS  SENSITIVE  TO  COLD

This is the most common type of post operative discomfort.
Because of trauma due to the drilling procedure or pre-existing
infection, the pulp will commonly react by becoming hypersensitive to changes in 
temperature. (Have you noticed how any small skin wound is senstive to changes in 
temperature?)
Naturally it is the same for the dental pulp. 
This sensitivity should taper off over the 
first few days, but can take some time to disappear entirely.
If you feel that the problem is not improving you should 
contact your dentist for advice.  This may mean that the 
damage to the pulp has been irreversible and the tooth may 
require additional care such as a root canal treatment.
If your bite feels at all uneven be sure to avoid rubbing
teeth over the offending contact as this is likely to injure
the supporting tissue of the tooth, resulting in pain and
discomfort that can become worse due to the resulting 
swelling under the tooth producing even more interference in
the bite - an ever increasing cycle of pain and trauma.

HOW  LONG  SHOULD  THE  RESTORATION  LAST ?

This will ultimately depend on you.  You can expect
the restorations in your mouth to last twenty years or longer if you
keep a clean mouth.  This means flossing daily between all teeth and
brushing thoroughly after meals.  You should eat a balanced diet,
no between meal snacks that contain sugar and have a dental 
check up twice per year.  If you are not prepared to follow this
advice then your restorations can be undermined by decay and/or the
supporting tissues can eventually fail due to gum disease.