One of the most common concerns we hear from patients who come to us for dental work is, “Why does my tooth filling hurt after months?” It’s a valid concern: tooth fillings are supposed to fix pain, so why do they do the opposite so often?
Let’s explore common dental implant complications, why they happen, and what you can do to protect your oral health in these cases.
Table of Contents
Common Reasons for Delayed Filling Pain
Pain around dental implants right after getting a filling is pretty normal. However, continued discomfort, dental implant swelling, implant site warmth, and implant sensitivity for months after the procedure indicate something is wrong beneath the surface.
Nerve Irritation
Sometimes, if a dentist places an implant really close to your tooth’s nerve, it can cause implant sensitivity to both temperature and pressure. This is because the nerve has become inflamed (a condition known as pulpitis), and it can take months to resolve the issue.
Bite Misalignment
Even a slight height difference between the new filling and your natural teeth can throw off your bite, causing painful pressure points. This can cause jaw pain, lead to severe headaches, or make chewing painful.
Recurrent Decay or Infection
Tooth decay doesn’t stop if the filling isn’t sealed correctly because new bacteria can still slip in and cause decay beneath the surface. Left untreated, this can cause infection or reinfection, resulting in a toothache, swelling, or dental implant site pus.
How to Know if Your Dental Implant Is Infected
If you’ve had implant work done near the problem area, it’s possible you’re confusing post-filling pain with an in-progress implant complication.
Signs You Might Have a Dental Implant Infection
Pain, swelling, or redness around the dental implant site can quickly escalate into implant sensitivity and dental implant odor. A fever (even a low-grade one) can also mean your body is fighting off an infection.
If you’re experiencing any dental implant infection symptoms, take them for what they are: early signs that something is wrong.
Causes and Risk Factors
Poor oral hygiene and smoking are the biggest causes of dental implant infection causes. When you don’t take care of the implant area, bacteria can build up, leading to noticeable implant site warmth and a foul odor and taste — all signs of tooth infection brewing beneath the gums. If you don’t visit a dentist and improve your oral hygiene, the infection can progress into peri-implantitis.
When to Contact Your Dentist
Symptoms like bleeding from the dental implant, dental implant site pus, or a loose dental implant
are clear indicators that you should seek dental care as soon as possible. Other warning signs include pain that worsens over time, persistent swelling, or a fever that doesn’t go away.
So, if you find yourself asking, “Why does my tooth filling hurt after months?”, don’t wait. Your body is asking for help.
Prevention and Treatment Options
How to treat dental implant infection depends on the severity of the problem. A good start is a deep clean to remove bacteria that can cause an infection. If you already have an infection and it has spread, you may need surgery to clean the site or replace the implant.
As for prevention, brush and floss twice a day, avoid tobacco, and regularly visit your dentist for a checkup.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Ignore the Signs
Tooth pain that lingers for months isn’t just annoying — it’s a sign that something might be truly wrong. So, if you find yourself wondering, “Why does my tooth filling hurt after months?”, trust your instincts and schedule a check-up.
Ready to get your teeth checked and fixed? Contact Bloom Dental of Arlington for friendly, expert tooth care!