Filling on tooth 31/lower right molar–question about post-visit pain/stiffness/jaw issues

question

Yesterday, I had 3 fillings done; 2 on top right (teeth 2 and 3), and one on lower right molar (tooth 31). Due to a combo of bad genetics, a connective tissue disorder, dental damage from Lyme disease, and malnutrition, I’ve had so many issues over the years, and have had a lot of work done (fillings, root canals, extractions, implant).

But my question today concerns the filling in tooth 31 yesterday. I was speaking to the hygienist about why that numbing injection was such a little b*tch, and she explained it’s so much worse than the too because they have to go through muscle to numb the lower molar area (which of course numbs that entire half of your mouth).

That made sense to me, and it could also explain why now, the following day (16 hours after filling), things are still so sore, but I’m just worried it’s not textbook and need some advice from those would would know better than I (and better than Google).

As the medicine wore off, I felt so much intense pain that kept getting worse. Not a sharp/shooting/throbbing type pain indicative of any infection, but my jaw (have TMD and it’s been a problem for decades; I’m 37) and the entire jaw area (my actual TMJ, as well as the rest of my lower right jawbone area, and even going up to/through my right ear and side of face) is just so freaking sore and feels swollen.

Having trouble opening my mouth fully, triggered my underlying migraine disorder to flare more than other dental procedures have, and I just generally am not functioning well. I’m not worried about an infection, I’m just curious if a numbing injection that has to go through the muscle in the bottom there is typically this painful the next day.

Is there a typical timeline for when this pain might fade, and does anyone here have any specific medical insight as far as the exact muscle that has to be gone through to numb this area/why it takes so much longer to settle down than the injections not through muscle in the upper right?

Is this just a case of “muscle was bruised/trauma from actual injection piercing through, just takes time to feel better? Or is it atypical for it to be this sore and impeding ability to open mouth more than just over halfway, with pain shooting (not nerve-like, but somehow a shooting muscle type pain) if I try to open my mouth any and move my jaw a little from side to side?

Thanks in advance for literally any insight. It would mean a lot.

Posted Mar 10, 2026, 11:40 AM UTC

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