You can usually board a plane on the same day as a routine filling. Cabin pressure is rarely a problem for a tooth that has just been cleaned out and sealed. The work that deserves more planning around a flight is surgery, such as an extraction, and the teeth that cause trouble in the air are more often ones with decay, a leaking old filling or an infection that has not been treated yet.
Pressure changes only bother teeth with a weak spot
As a plane climbs, the air pressure in the cabin falls, and as it descends the pressure rises again. Gas trapped in an enclosed space expands and contracts with those changes, which is why your ears can feel blocked. A sound tooth has no air pocket inside it, so it does not notice.
Pain that comes on during a flight is called barodontalgia. It tends to show up in teeth that already have something going on: decay under or beside a filling, an inflamed nerve, an infection at the root tip, or sometimes a sinus problem that refers pain to the upper back teeth. In a 2019 review by Nakdimon and Zadik, which pooled reports from 4,894 aircrew and divers, about 5.8% of aircrew had experienced it, and the authors suggested that regular dental check-ups may explain the lower rates in military crews. A 2026 systematic review in the British Dental Journal (Duarte and colleagues) found that in-flight episodes happened mostly during descent. Our article on why teeth can hurt when you fly goes into the causes in more detail.
After a filling, the main thing to manage is the numbness
A well-placed filling closes the tooth off, so it does not create the kind of trapped space that reacts to altitude. For most fillings, no waiting period is needed before a flight. The practical issue on the day is the local anaesthetic, which usually leaves your lip, cheek or tongue numb for an hour or two, sometimes longer. Until the feeling comes back, skip hot drinks and plane meals, and be careful not to chew the inside of your cheek.
Some tenderness or sensitivity to cold in the days after a filling is common, especially when the cavity was deep, and it usually settles. Our guide to sensitivity after a filling explains what is expected and what is not. If a tooth with a very deep filling is already aching before you fly, ring your dentist before you leave, because an irritated nerve is more likely to react to pressure changes. For a step-by-step look at the appointment itself, see getting a filling: what to expect.
Temporary fillings and crowns
A temporary filling or crown placed between appointments is usually fine to fly with. It is softer and less secure than the final restoration, so avoid sticky lollies and very hard foods while you are away, and keep the appointment for the permanent work. If a temporary comes out while you are travelling, keep it, avoid chewing on that side, and contact a dentist where you are.
Extractions and surgery need more breathing room
After a tooth is taken out, a blood clot forms in the socket and protects it while it heals. The clot is most fragile in the first day or so, which is when bleeding and swelling are most likely to need attention. Dry socket, if it happens, usually shows up a few days after the extraction. That is the main reason to leave some time after an extraction before a long trip, so you are near the dentist who treated you if anything needs checking.
The more involved the surgery, the more time it is sensible to leave. Wisdom tooth removal, especially of lower teeth, usually calls for a longer gap than a straightforward extraction. Our article on flying after wisdom teeth removal covers that situation, and your dentist can give you advice specific to your procedure and flight.
A sore tooth is worth sorting out before the trip
If a tooth twinges with cold, catches food around an old filling, or has been aching on and off, having it looked at before you go is far easier than dealing with it mid-flight or overseas. Treatment for a problem tooth is often simpler when it is caught early. If you are close to your next visit anyway, our guide to how often to have a check-up and X-rays can help you decide whether to bring it forward.
Questions about flying and dental work
Can I fly straight after a filling?
In most cases, yes. The filling seals the tooth, so cabin pressure is not usually an issue. Just plan around the numbness, which usually lasts an hour or two, sometimes longer.
What should I do if a tooth starts hurting during a flight?
Over-the-counter pain relief taken as directed on the pack may help, and pain often eases once the plane has landed. Pain in the air is a sign that tooth may have an underlying problem, so book an examination after your trip even if it settles.
Is it safe to fly with a temporary filling?
Usually. Be gentle with it while chewing and keep your appointment for the permanent restoration.
Planning dental work around travel
If you have a trip booked and a tooth on your mind, let us know the dates when you book so the appointment can be planned around them. You can make an appointment with a general dentist at our Melrose Park practice, and current offers are listed on our current deals page.
This article is general information and is not a substitute for personal dental advice. For advice about your own teeth, please see a dentist.
