2007-01-27 12:27:10 · 10 answers · asked by Spken20 1 in Health ➔ Dental
I'm a dentist.
My God, the misinformation with which one can be confronted on this forum is truly staggering.
We tell you not to eat after dental work because your soft tissues are also numb, and you might bite your cheek, your lip, or your tongue and cause a serious injury--without even knowing it.
As far as the resorative materials go, both composite and amalgam restorative materials are sufficiently hard to use for chewing by the time you leave the office.
Most amalgam restorations (silver fillings) become hard within ten minutes of being mixed (i.e. prior to being placed in your teeth). Of course, despite being hard, they are not completely set. That takes as much as 24 hours for some amalgams. Regardless, you can chew on them.
Composite restorations (i.e. tooth-colored fillings) are cured by a light and are completely hardened by the time the doctor turns off the curing light (assuming that the material is cured an adequate amount of time).
2007-01-27 13:10:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I just had all of my old metal fillings changed to resin/composite fillings last week... eat before if you're hungry... the numbness should just be wearing off around 1:30 and you'll likely be able to eat without any problems. These fillings harden during the process (layer after layer) with the use of a bright light... it's a little time consuming--but not bad at all.
2016-03-29 05:37:31 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They tell you not to eat after so that the filling will have time to set. If you eat before the required time you could compromise the filling and risk it falling out.
2007-01-27 12:29:56 · answer #3 · answered by darlintxdaisy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i am the queen of the fillings. i have had a grand total of 14 in the entire last year. one time 2, and twice i got 6 done at one sitting.
don't eat until you can feel your tongue and all of your mouth like normal. the white fillings that match your teeth is what i got....they are fine by the time you're out and you can eat on them.....it'll just hurt. i brush my teeth with a spin brush and it hurted to use it on my fillings because they are still sensitive. your filling will be sensitive.
if you got metal fillings...don't eat as soon. i have had like 3 metal fillings fall out....which lead to the new fillings. metal fillings are horrible and they will chip off and wear away the sooner you eat food after getting them...
2007-01-27 17:28:30 · answer #4 · answered by trish 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most often, you can bite or burn your tongue because you can't yet feel.
In the past, dental fillings were still somewhat soft and could be damaged. Now more dentists use the blue light to "set" filling material and dry it.
Lifes
2007-01-27 12:31:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you've gotten the newer tooth colored fillings....they are already hardened by the time you leave the office...the reason that they advise you not to eat for a while is that you're numb...and its much easier to bite your cheek or gum that way.
2007-01-27 12:30:14 · answer #6 · answered by higgy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It'll ruin the filling. It needs time to set.
2007-01-27 12:31:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's b/c amalgam (silver) fillings have to set. if they dont set they can crack and then fall apart, then you will just have to go back to the dentist and have to have the proceudre done alll over again. im sure u would hate that.
2007-01-27 12:32:15 · answer #8 · answered by Amos&Asher=MyBoys 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think that it might mess the filling up
2007-01-27 12:32:25 · answer #9 · answered by hi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you get the opportunity to enjoy the experience again.Wow!
2007-01-27 12:32:26 · answer #10 · answered by adam p 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋