Tooth still hurting from filling three weeks later? i had my first filling done over three weeks ago and still have pain when i eat or drink something hot or cold. will this go away soon?

Depending : Depending on the depth of the filling it is understandable to have varying degrees of post operative sensitivity. The rule of thumb is that you should be able to feel that it is getting a little bit better each week, not worse or the same. If it is not improving some intervention may be necessary. Regardless, it can't hurt to have your dentist check it out--may be something as simple as a bite adjustment.

Agree : Agree with dr. Scharf. Would like to add that the onset and duration of the discomfort are indicators as to the severity of the problem. If the pain is spontaneous it may indicate the the nerve is irreversibly injured and will require a root canal. Also if the pain lingers for hours instead of resolving in minutes this is an indication of a more severe injury to the nerve. After the placement of deep fillings, a healthy nerve will respond by laying down and insulating barrier of dentin. This helps to protect the nerve from insults from hot and cold stimuli. This is a slow process so it may take awhile for symptoms to resolve. Occasionally a filling may be "high". This condition may lead to the tooth being sensitive to biting pressure and temperature changes. This can be addressed by a simple adjustment of the filling. If your symptoms persist have your dentist reevaluate the health of the tooth.

Unfortunately : Unfortunately sensitivity underneath a filling is not abnormal or uncommon. It can be caused by a number of different factors. 1) your filling may be deep and in close proximity to your nerve - you may need a root canal if this is the case 2) your filling may be high and when you close you are hitting it prematurely. An occlusal adjustment by the dentist may help alleviate the issues that you are having. 3) you filling may have been contaminated when placed - a new filling would have to be placed if this was the case i would call your dentist and tell him your are uncomfortable and need to be seen to see why you are having your issues. A good rule of thumb is that the filling may be sensitive for a while but should get better over time. If not you need to have it checked. Hope this helps.

No.: It is either a bond disruption (bad technique) or your tooth is dying.

Contact your dentist: Dr. Scharf and dr. Funari gave excellent answers and I am in full agreement with them. The larger and the deeper the filling, the more likely one may experience post operative sensitivity, especially with amalgam (silver) fillings which conduct hot and cold extremes to the nerve of the tooth. You should contact your dentist who can best determine what to do in your case.