Tooth Pain
Why does my tooth still hurt after a filling?
7 July 2026 · The Dentist, Al Qusais, Dubai
The short answer
Some sensitivity after a filling is normal, especially to cold, pressure or biting, and it typically settles within two to four weeks as the nerve calms down. Pain that is sharp, throbbing, worsens over time, or wakes you at night is different and usually means the filling is too high, the decay was close to the nerve, or the tooth needs a root canal. If discomfort lasts beyond a month or gets worse rather than better, get the tooth checked rather than waiting it out.
What's normal and what isn't
Any filling involves drilling into tooth structure, and the nerve inside the tooth reacts to that. It's common to feel sensitivity to cold drinks, sweet foods, or biting pressure for one to three weeks afterwards. This usually feels like a quick sharp twinge that fades within a few seconds, not a lingering ache. It tends to improve week by week rather than staying the same or getting worse.
What isn't normal: pain that throbs on its own without anything touching the tooth, pain that wakes you up at night, swelling in the gum or cheek, or discomfort that's just as bad (or worse) three or four weeks later. Those patterns point to something the filling alone didn't fix, and they're worth having looked at rather than managing with painkillers indefinitely.
The usual reasons a filled tooth still hurts
The most common cause is a filling that's sitting slightly too high. Even a fraction of a millimetre of excess material means your teeth meet unevenly when you bite down, and that tooth takes more force than it should every time you chew. This creates a dull ache or pressure sensitivity that's often worse on that one tooth specifically. It's a quick fix: the dentist checks your bite with articulating paper and adjusts the filling down.
Deep decay is another common one. If the cavity was close to the nerve, the filling itself can leave the nerve inflamed, a condition called pulpitis. Often this settles on its own as the nerve recovers. Sometimes it doesn't, and the nerve becomes permanently irritated, which means the tooth will eventually need a root canal to remove the inflamed tissue and stop the pain for good.
Less commonly, there's a crack in the tooth that existed before the filling and is still transmitting pressure to the nerve, or the filling material itself is reacting to something (rare, but worth ruling out if you've had unusual sensitivity to a specific material before). Occasionally the filling doesn't fully seal the tooth and bacteria find a tiny gap, which causes decay to continue underneath it. That won't improve with time. It gets worse.
When to wait and when to come in
A rough rule: if the pain is mild, only triggered by cold or biting, and it's been less than two weeks, give it time. Avoid chewing directly on that tooth, use a sensitivity toothpaste if it helps, and keep an eye on the trend. If it's fading, you're on the right track.
Come in sooner if the pain is spontaneous, sharp, throbbing, or disturbs your sleep, if there's any swelling, or if it's been more than three to four weeks with no real improvement. These are the situations where a filling adjustment, a deeper look at the tooth, or a root canal assessment actually solves the problem, and painkillers are just delaying that.
If you had a filling done recently and something feels off, it's a five minute check for a dentist to see whether it's a bite issue, an infection starting, or a nerve still settling. At The Dentist in Al Qusais, Dr. Faris Alkhanafseh and Dr. Mohammad Nour see this exact situation regularly and can usually tell within one visit which of these it is. Call or WhatsApp 056 349 8888 if the ache hasn't eased after a couple of weeks, or sooner if it's keeping you up at night.
This article is general information, not a diagnosis. If you are in Dubai, the free first checkup at our Al Qusais clinic is the fastest way to get an answer about your own teeth.