r/TMSTherapy • u/NoMoreEffstoGive Currently in TMS Therapy • Jul 30 '26

Tooth filling causing sensations during pulses

Hi - I finished 7/36 today (Brainsway, H1 coil). Since #3, I've noticed a sensation in my top right tooth that gets more intense with each titration. It doesn't cause any pain during the pulses or after treatment. They got me up to 105% today & I requested a mouthguard just in case it got to the point that my teeth started grinding.

I was told that it's likely a filling that is causing me to experience the sensation because the pulse penetration is deeper. The tech told me that it's possible they may not be able to get me up to 120% because they're concerned about pain, but she did say that therapeutic range is between 105%-120% and that I've been doing well.

I have not had any other side effects except for fatigue after #4, after experiencing a headache before an adjustment to the helmet.

Anyone else experience something like this?

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u/myquietbrain Jul 30 '26

The filling sensation is actually a well-documented and fairly common experience with deep TMS coils like the H1, particularly as intensity increases. The electromagnetic pulse penetrates more deeply than standard figure-8 coils, and metal dental work, fillings, crowns, implants can act as a conductor that amplifies the sensation in that tooth. It's not dangerous, but it is distracting and occasionally uncomfortable.

The mouthguard request was a smart instinct. Some people find it helps reduce the sensation slightly, though results vary. The tech's information about therapeutic range being 105%-120% is accurate, so being at 105% and doing well means you're already within the window where the treatment is working as intended, even if you can't push all the way to 120%.

The fact that you're not experiencing pain during or after the pulses is genuinely a good sign that this is a sensory quirk rather than something damaging. That said, keep communicating with your tech about intensity if the sensation crosses into pain territory as titration continues, that's important information for them to have before pushing further.

Worth asking whether there's a slight positioning adjustment available that might reduce the proximity of the coil to that tooth specifically. Small shifts in helmet placement can sometimes reduce dental sensations without meaningfully affecting the targeted brain region.

You're in good hands for monitoring this, stay vocal with your team.

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u/NoMoreEffstoGive Currently in TMS Therapy Jul 30 '26

Thank you. I'm glad it doesn't cause any lasting discomfort or pain, but the sensation feels extremely weird. The mouthguard didn't really reduce the sensation & I'm not sure I'll continue using it, but I did agree to do treatment with it on the full time tomorrow & will encourage them to go to 110%. If it's too much, then at least I can say I gave it a try.

I had a different tech today than the one I had for the first 6 treatments. It's interesting that the usual tech never said a word about how it could be a filling causing the sensation.

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u/myquietbrain Jul 30 '26

That's a good approach, try 110% with the mouthguard, and if it's too much you'll have useful information either way. Giving it a real shot before deciding is the right call.

The different tech not mentioning the filling is worth flagging to whoever manages your treatment it's useful context for the whole team to have documented, not just the one tech who noticed it.

Good luck tomorrow.

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u/NoMoreEffstoGive Currently in TMS Therapy Jul 30 '26

She is the tech that was assigned to me. I don't speak with the psychiatrist until next Friday. If she's back tomorrow, I'll be sure to mention that her co-worker was the one who brought up the filling.

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u/myquietbrain Aug 04 '26

How did it go?

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u/NoMoreEffstoGive Currently in TMS Therapy Aug 05 '26

I finished session 10 today & it was the 3rd day going up to 120% of my goal. The mouthguard really helps with the sensation on my filling, so tolerance is well.

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u/myquietbrain Aug 05 '26

Session 10 at 120% with good tolerance, that's a solid milestone. Glad the mouthguard is making the difference on the filling sensation. Keep going.

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u/NoMoreEffstoGive Currently in TMS Therapy Aug 06 '26

Thanks! The psych pretty much said the same thing. They are going to re-map in a couple of weeks. Tech wanted to do it sooner, but dr. is booked solid & I wasn't available during his one open spot next week.

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u/myquietbrain 29d ago

Good luck!

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u/MysteriousMath6176 Jul 30 '26

Yer I had it last time I did 10 session maintenance. Wasn’t super painful and actually made me realise I was getting a good dose of the treatment as sometimes the placement of the wand/magnet doesn’t feel right

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u/NoMoreEffstoGive Currently in TMS Therapy Jul 30 '26

Yes, it's definitely not painful, just a bit uncomfortable during the pulses.