I have a toothache that’s bothering me. It needs attention right away. The issue is, I just went to a practitioner and had fillers put in my face three days ago (Juvederm). The fillers were injected in my nasolabial folds. I’m afraid that if I see a dentist, and they have me keep my mouth open for so long, it may move my filler. My post procedure instructions say not to attempt to move the filler, massage the area or apply pressure for two weeks. I think that involves going to the dentist, but this is a dental emergency. Should I wait, or go? — Sheila in Iowa
Sheila,
It is true that you definitely want to avoid pressure on the area of the filler for the first couple of weeks after the procedure. However, if you are having a dental emergency, do not hold off being seen. A quick exam and possible x-ray can save you from having a potential serious problem. Just communicate with your dentist that you had fillers done. They will likely be extra cognizant of not applying any pressure on the area. You may have some tenderness or swelling (which can be normal after the procedure) that will make opening your mouth uncomfortable. Other than that, its doubtful keeping your mouth open will hurt the procedure. If the dental visit is elective, than perhaps wait the two weeks just to be on the safe side. However, in the case of an emergency you should definitely go, as a dental visit will not interfere with the results of your filler.
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