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Good question! We all have experienced this unpleasant reaction if we have metallic restorations in our mouths, and we rapidly learn to avoid chewing on tinfoil or other metals! The answer to your question lies in the world of chemistry and physics. Simply put, two different metals contacting in an aqueous medium make a battery and the electricity produced by that contact passes into the tooth and its nerve. The result is the shock you inquire about.
One filling might produce the shock and another one might not produce a shock because something interferes with the transmission of the electrical currents. This insulation effect usually is due to some sort of a base under the fillings, the cement thickness under crowns, oxidation layers on the fillings, and so on. Thanks for writing.
William F. Wathen, DMD
Vice President
Center for Professional Development
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