What Is A High Filling?

A high filling is a condition where there are excessive quantities of the filling material in the tooth after the filling process resulting in an uneven bite.

The most common types of dental repair end with the dentist putting a filling in the tooth to cover up a cavity. It's not possible to tell exactly how much filling is needed for a particular tooth, as this will vary depending on the size of the cavity. Thus, a patient is likely to end up with more filling in the tooth than is actually necessary.

Dentists will try to tell if the filling is too high by asking you to bite down on a piece of paper to check the marks or ask you if the filling feels high when you bite down. Unfortunately, it's not always easy to tell this at this point since the mouth can be numbed by the use of a local anesthesia. However, in the days following the procedure, you'll probably know.

Effects of High Fillings

When you have fillings that are too high, some of the symptoms you'll experience soon after include the following:

Pain when biting down or chewing: Since the filling is higher than the other teeth, it will apply more pressure on the periodontal ligament when you bite down.

Sensitivity and aching: Pulpitis may develop and the tooth may become painful when subjected to high or low temperatures. It may also ache constantly.

It's advisable to get into a dental practice to have a high filling corrected as quickly as possible. In the long term, a high filling can cause:

Excessive wearing of the tooth due to a shift in the bite

The affected tooth and others can become loose if the high filling causes the jaw to shift

Pain in the jaw muscles due to an unnatural biting position

Your temporomandibular joint may start experiencing problems as a result of the unnatural movement

Correcting High Fillings

Fixing a high filling is relatively easy as long as you're able to realize the problem exists. Sometimes, there is no pain to warn you that something is wrong. Therefore, you'll need to look out for other signs. If you suspect that one or more of your fillings is too high, you should return to the dental office where the original procedure was done. The high filling will be ground down until it's at a more normal level. The pain from the sensitivity may continue for up to two weeks. 

For more information, contact a business such as Brandywine Dental Care.