{"id":228,"date":"2019-08-14T07:07:35","date_gmt":"2019-08-14T07:07:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stevewcobbdds.com\/blog\/?p=228"},"modified":"2019-09-20T07:11:49","modified_gmt":"2019-09-20T07:11:49","slug":"dentist-in-odessa-sensitivity-after-fillings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stevewcobbdds.com\/blog\/dentist-in-odessa-sensitivity-after-fillings\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Sensitivity Normal After a Cavity Has Been Filled? A Dentist Explains"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Woman<\/a>Did you know that over 90% of the population has had tooth decay (aka cavities) at some point in their life? This common condition leads to varying degrees of discomfort, but fortunately, a dentist in Odessa can usually repair it with a simple dental filling. However, as you may know if you\u2019ve had many cavities filled, it\u2019s not unusual to have temporary sensitivity after the procedure. Keep reading below to learn more and find out when sensitivity after a filling is normal and when you should call a dentist!<\/p>\n

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What Is a Cavity?<\/h2>\n

In simple terms, a \u2018cavity\u2019 can be defined as a hole in a tooth, but that doesn\u2019t tell the whole story. Cavities occur when bacteria in the mouth produce acids after consuming sugar or carbohydrates. Much like acid rain wears away stone over time, these acids eat away at the hard outer layer of teeth called enamel. If left untreated, these bacteria will continue destroying more of the tooth structure, eventually reaching the deeper layers where the pulp and nerve reside.<\/p>\n

How Are Cavities Filled?<\/h2>\n

The smaller a cavity is caught, the better. When it\u2019s only damaged the outer layers of a tooth, a simple filling is usually enough to restore the damaged tooth structure. Here are the basic steps involved in a dental filling<\/a>:<\/p>\n