What does this mean?
Biting loads the tooth along its own axis. In a sound tooth that force spreads without incident. If pain appears, either the tooth's integrity is broken or the tissue around the root is inflamed and the force compresses it.
The timing distinguishes them. A sharp pain at the moment of release suggests a crack. A dull ache during and after biting points to inflammation at the root tip. Pain appearing only on a newly placed filling is usually a restoration left slightly high, and a simple adjustment settles it.
There are four usual causes, separated by the timing of the pain and which tooth it sits in.
Likely causes
What helps at home?
- Chew less on the painful side for a while; force deepens a crack
- If it began after a new filling, say so; adjusting the height takes minutes
- Avoid hard food and anything containing stones
- Pain that repeats with every bite and steadily increases
- Swelling, a bump or discharge at the gum
- The pain also starting on its own
- A sense of movement in the tooth
Frequently asked questions
- Is pain on biting after a new filling normal?
- Mild sensitivity for a few days is possible. But a clear pain on biting can mean the filling is high; that is easily corrected and does not need to be waited out.
- The X-ray showed nothing; why does it still hurt?
- Cracks run parallel to the tooth's long axis, so they usually do not show on a radiograph. The diagnosis is made with a bite test and transillumination.
This content is for general information and does not replace an in-person examination. Symptoms overlap between conditions, and a diagnosis can only be made clinically.