People often worry about the level of discomfort they’re going to experience with a dental appearance. It’s often the chief cause of dental anxiety, which is, unfortunately, one of the chief causes of dental discomfort. It’s a vicious cycle: people are afraid and tense up, which causes them to hurt more which makes them more afraid. Fortunately, sedation dentistry can break that cycle.
But there is often some discomfort associated with a dental visit, depending on the procedure that was done.
Level of Discomfort after a Dentist Visit
Normally, there’s only minor discomfort associated with a visit to the dentist, even if you had a relatively major procedure. It will likely be controllable with over-the-counter pain medication. In the rare event when you might experience more, we will prescribe appropriate medication.
How Long Does Discomfort in the Gums Last?
If you come to the office for a routine cleaning or check-up, you may experience discomfort for the rest of the day, and will likely be better on the next day. Sometimes, discomfort may last into the second day.
For root scaling and planing or other significant gum disease treatment, discomfort may last a couple days longer. In addition, heat and cold sensitivity may last much longer, as much as six weeks in some cases.
How Long Does Discomfort from a New Filling, Dental Crown, or Porcelain Veneer Last?
When a tooth is prepared to receive a filling, pressure is put on it that may result in discomfort for the rest of the day after anesthesia wears off. Dental crowns and porcelain veneers may result in similar discomfort for the same reasons. You may also experience heat, cold, and pressure sensitivity during the adjustment period. However, if your tooth hurts from just closing your teeth in a rest position, your restoration may need adjusting.
How Long Does Discomfort from Extractions and Root Canal Last?
These procedures may result in a little more long-lasting discomfort. Significant discomfort from an extraction or root canal may last for 2-3 days, with some lingering discomfort for a week or more afterward. If you have significant discomfort after the third day, it’s possible there’s a problem, and you should contact your dentist.
How Long Do Sore Muscles Last after a Dentist Appointment?
If you’re one of the many people who experience sore muscles from holding your mouth open during treatment, we recommend sedation dentistry. It helps relax jaw muscles and can reduce the stress that is the major cause of discomfort here. In any case, this should be better on the same day of your treatment, though it may linger on to the second day.
But for some people, discomfort in the muscles may linger and may even worsen when you talk, eat, or swallow. This may be a sign that you have a poorly placed restoration that may be impacting your bite, and, if left unattended, may contribute to TMJ.
If you have more questions about dentistry, or if you’re looking for a Rockland County dentist, please call (845) 627-7645 for an appointment at B & D Dental Excellence.
