🦷 Dental Aftercare
Dental Filling Aftercare Instructions
A day-by-day recovery guide for dental filling: what to expect, how to care for yourself, and when to call. Free to read and print.
Typical recovery: about 2 daysDental
What to expect
Composite vs Amalgam
- •Composite (white) fillings are fully set when you leave
- •Amalgam (silver) fillings take 24 hours to fully harden; chew on the other side
- •Both types can last many years with good oral hygiene
Dental Filling recovery, day by day
Day 0 (Filling Day)
Numbness
- Numbness wears off in 1-3 hours
- Do NOT eat until numbness is completely gone to avoid biting your cheek or tongue
- Avoid hot beverages while numb
Bite Check
- Your bite should feel normal once numbness wears off
- If your bite feels high or uneven, call us for a quick adjustment
- An uneven bite can cause soreness and headaches if left uncorrected
Sensitivity
- Mild sensitivity to hot, cold, and pressure is normal for 1-2 weeks
- Use sensitivity toothpaste (Sensodyne) if needed
- Avoid extremely hot or cold foods for the first 24 hours
Day 1-3
Normal Recovery
- Resume normal brushing and flossing
- Sensitivity should improve each day
- Over-the-counter ibuprofen if gums are sore from the injection
When to call your provider or 911
- •Severe, throbbing pain that worsens after 48 hours
- •Bite feels significantly uneven after numbness wears off
- •Filling falls out or cracks
- •Swelling or pus around the filled tooth
When in doubt, call your clinic. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Recovery milestones
- Day 0
Numbness gone
Full feeling returns within a few hours
- Day 2
Sensitivity resolves
Tooth should feel normal again
For clinics
Stop photocopying aftercare sheets.
QR Rx sends this exact dental filling recovery plan to every patient, branded to your practice, opened by a QR code. It checks in automatically, answers post-op questions, asks for a review at the right moment, and brings patients back for their next visit. The aftercare you already owe every patient, doing the work of keeping them.
HIPAA compliant. No credit card. Cancel anytime.