Jaw ache caused by filling?

[PhillipD]

Hello,

I've just had my bottom left back tooth re-filled (the tooth right at the very back of my mouth) after my tooth cracked and took a chunk of the previous filling with it. I didn't have an injection to have this done although there was a lot of drilling and tugging!

My problem is that it's two days ago and yet I still have a dull pain. It feels very much like jaw ache with a dullness and muscle ache that goes down to my neck. The actual tooth is not sensitive.

Is it simply my jaw/mouth readjusting as to begin with the filling did feel slightly higher than the rest of my mouth but now it doesn't as much (perhaps I'm grinding it down in my sleep!).

So am I just worrying over nothing? How long should I wait until I go back to the dentist? Ibuprofen is keeping it controlled.

Thanks
Phillip

[Dr Mohsen J. Esfahani]

Thank you for your post.

If your mouth was open for a while as the filling was being done then its not unusual to have jawache afterwards for a few days. I usually recommend that if you feel a filling is high after its done to go back to your dentist ASAP to have it adjusted. High fillings dont always wear down by themselves and could cause damage to that tooth.

So if you feel that the filling is high, don't wait for it to adjust itself, go back to have it checked by your dentist. Your jawache should be gone within a few days, if it persists, you need to have it investigated.

[PhillipD]

Thanks for the response. The jaw ache has now gone now and the highness has also gone - or at least the feeling of it has. I suspect as it was quite a hole it just felt odd to have it filled again!

Thanks
Phillip