Light Dimmer Problem

I'm having a problem with the light dimmer switch in my kitchen. I recently painted all my recessed lighting covers and was installing all the lightbulbs into the fixtures. I was going one by one and checking that the lights were working after replacing each one. I got to one of the last ones and when I hit the switch it popped. When I replaced the bulb and hit the wall dimmer switch the lights now will only be at the maximum brightness. The dimmer switch will only turn the lights on and off and not dim them whatsoever.

So did something cause the light switch to go bad after this "pop" of the one light fixture?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Electronic dimmers are fickle. Sounds as though yours smoked, sorry, it happens (no ryme or reason).

These are the same lamps (bulbs) as before? No extra load?

You need a new one. DO NOT install it with the power on. Or most likely... Youll run out for another.