Most people have a few things that really get on their nerves. Of course, these annoyances are different from dental issues which can physically aggravate your nerves. An irritated dental nerve isn't common after restorative dentistry, but it's not unheard of. How will you know if your necessary dental work has gotten on your tooth's nerve?

Dental Cavities

In most instances, the decay created by a cavity is simply filled. In preparation, the surrounding decayed enamel and dentin are removed by your dentist, and the tooth is then restored by the application of an appropriate filling material (typically a tooth-colored resin, which is then light-cured). Although the filling may require reapplication in some years, the restoration has halted the onset of deterioration and has returned the tooth to full functionality. An aggravated dental nerve caused by the restoration will not always be immediately evident, and will generally develop in the days to come.

An Aggravated Nerve

Your tooth's nerve is located in its central pulp chamber. When a cavity has breached your tooth's outer enamel and penetrated the underlying dentin, its depth can be problematic. The presence of filling material and how far it reaches into the tooth can be what has triggered the nerve's aggravation. This can lead to sensitivity and discomfort.

Sensitivity and Discomfort

This type of localized irritation can be indicated by a noticeable sensitivity affecting the tooth in question. You may experience sharp discomfort when consuming foods served at either end of the temperature scale. A hot beverage may cause discomfort, as can ice cream. There may also be discomfort when chewing, such as when your tooth has an adverse reaction to bite pressure, even when this bite pressure is not excessive. If you suspect that your recent filling has aggravated your tooth's nerve, you should work with a restoration dentist. 

What Happens Next

Any post-restoration irregularities should be reported to the dentist who performed the work. It's likely that they'll advise you to monitor the situation, managing your discomfort with over-the-counter pain relief, if needed. The aggravation may resolve by itself. If the issue should persist (or worsen), you will need to see your dentist again. It might be that the depth of the cavity was too great for a mere filling and that you will require root canal treatment.

Although a dental filling shouldn't irritate a tooth's nerve, it's a possible outcome that you need to be aware of. In many cases, your nerve will quickly adjust, but when this doesn't happen, additional treatment can be needed. Contact a dentist that does restorative dentistry for more information.