I visited a dentist for general cleaning, and 3 or fillings about a year back. The dentist did the job, but it was very aggressive, his hands were moving so fast that one sharp tool pierced my tongue, but with the same speed he removed it. 3 or 4 days later, the inner part of left cheek on which side he did that aggressive job, started coming under my teeth, and it was quite painful every time it happens. It took me 3 or 4 months to get used to it. In between I stopped feeling it, again in the last couple of weeks, I have started experiencing it again, and this time some times it is happening to the right cheek also, but less intermittently. Before going to him, I was quite ok, did not have any problems, excepting that while eating a guava, some times the seeds get into the small hole which formed. I dreaded going to the same dentist, and in fact hesitate going to any dentist. What is the remedy? Did he over-ground the teeth? He did not even take an x-ray, but only once he saw it in a monitor, and told me that the teeth are well maintained, and only some general cleaning, and few fillings are required. But the outcome was terrible. I purchased a new problem. I dreaded going to the same dentist, and in fact hesitate going to any dentist. Please advise me what has gone wrong, and what is the remedy. I am a male and 70years of age.
Ans: Hello
It sounds like you had a very stressful experience, and it is completely understandable that you feel hesitant and fearful about seeing a dentist again after going through so much discomfort.
If your dentist was “very aggressive”, as you say, or too fast for your comfort, you’d be well within your rights to request him to slow down. And perhaps he should’ve been slower and gentler.
No dentist likes to risk losing a patient or jeopardizing his reputation for whatever reasons.
What you are describing—the inner part of your cheek repeatedly getting caught between your teeth—is known as chronic cheek biting.
When you receive fillings, the shapes and surfaces of your teeth get altered. There are a few primary reasons why this can cause you to bite your cheek:
* Altered Bite Alignment: Even a tiny alteration to the thickness, height, or contours of a new filling can shift how your upper and lower teeth meet. If the filling was made too bulky on the outer side, the cheek tissue can easily slip onto the chewing surface.
* Sharp Edges: Rushed dental work can leave rough or sharp surfaces or poor contours that drag the delicate inner lining of your mouth.
* Muscular and Age-Related Changes: Soft tissues naturally lose elasticity as we age. Our skin and the soft tissues inside our mouths become a bit more relaxed or "lax." Once a cheek is bitten, it swells, making it much more likely to be bitten repeatedly, creating a painful, frustrating cycle.
Cheek-biting on the right side now may be due to your jaw unconsciously shifting to avoid the painful left side.
It is unlikely that the teeth were completely "over-ground," but it is highly probable that the fillings were not perfectly contoured or balanced to your natural bite.
Standard X-rays are primarily used to find deep decay or bone loss, whereas shaping a filling relies entirely on a visual check, the dentist's technique, and having the patient bite on a piece of colored articulating paper to test the alignment. If the procedure was rushed, this crucial fine-tuning step may have been compromised.
The good news is you do not have to live with this problem, and it can be fixed safely and gently.
1. Bite Adjustment: A dentist can gently smooth down the sharp edges or reduce the bulk of the fillings. This takes only a few minutes, does not require anaesthesia, and immediately helps keep the cheek out of harm's way.
2. Allowing the Tissue to Heal: Warm salt-water rinses and soothing gels can help soothe the current swelling in your cheeks.
You do not have to return to the same clinic. You have complete control over how you choose your next provider.
Look for a dentist who specializes in dental anxiety or geriatric care. Many modern dental clinics explicitly market themselves as catering to fearful, anxious, or elderly patients. They focus on a slow, patient-centric pace.
You can book a "consultation only" visit first to explain your fears and ensure they agree to move at a slow, gentle pace. Tell the new dentist exactly what happened to you. A good dentist will listen to your fears, promise to move slowly, and explain every step before doing anything.
Taking this step with a provider who respects your pace will help you resolve the cheek biting and safely restore your comfort.
Question by Onkar on May 21, 2026
