How can I control my pain after getting a silver dental filling?

If you feel pain after a silver dental filling, you can take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever such as Advil or Tylenol to help alleviate it. The soreness you feel where your mouth has been worked on should disappear within a day or two but sometimes your dentist will prescribe medication to control pain and inflammation. If that happens, be sure to use the medication only as directed. If your medication does not seem to work for you or you feel like you are in extreme pain following a filling, call your dentist.

To lessen soreness or achiness that can occur in the mouth where the procedure was done, your dentist may recommend nonprescription pain relievers such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen, or may prescribe a slightly stronger pain reliever, such as codeine. If the new filling has made your tooth more sensitive, using a toothpaste for sensitive teeth may relieve the discomfort until the sensitivity lessens. If you notice pain when you bite down on the tooth with the new filling, or if you notice sharp edges on the filling, you may have to return to the dentist to have the filling filed down or reshaped. Always tell your dentist if you are experiencing any discomfort after getting a filling.