Calling all dentists out there!! I need an medical opinion but cant afford a second dentist!?

I recently had three cavities fill on my lower right side. Ever since my dentist did this, about three weeks ago, one of those teeth has been a zillion times more pain than before. I went to see my dentist about this, and he said this sometimes happens with gum line cavities near the root, and I made need a root canal, but he issnt sure which tooth. I dont understand if the tooth needed a root canal, why he cant see this on x ray and why didnt it hurt like this before he filled the cavity? I pay out of pocket, so I just want to know if Im being treated right. I really cant afford another root canal right now, but Im in a lot of pain.

Calling all dentists out there!! I need an medical opinion but cant afford a second dentist!?
Any dental treatment causes pain to the tooth, that's why you need local anaesthetic. Usually there is therefore a bit of post-op pain for a day or two until the tooth settles down. Just like any medical operation, except on a smaller scale. It doesn't necessarily matter that you had no pain prior. Thankfully most settle down.


There are a couple of reasons why this tooth might be more sensitive and refusing to settle:


1. the decay was especially deep and close to the nerve;


2. white fillings (composites) are more likely to give post-op pain than amalgams. This can also be more likely near the gumline because there may not be enough enamel for the filling to glue onto.


Xrays don't necessarily show that a tooth will need an RCT. They are just one tool in a range of diagnostic tests.


Uusally the exact tooth can be detected from the consideration of the following:


1. which tooth had the deepest decay?


2. which tooth is most sensitive to a cold air spray or ice test?


3. which tooth is most sensitive to tapping it?


Having determined the tooth, your next choice is to:


1. replace the filling temporarily with a ZnO temp filling;


2. replace the filling with an amalgam, possibly with a Ledermix lining (may not be available in USA), or swab the base of the cavity with a corticosteroid eyedrop solution first e.g. Predneforte;


3. commence an RCT;


4. extraction.


You might want to take these suggestions along to your dentist. Good luck.
Reply:Sounds like you need a new dentist. You should never be in more pain 3 weeks after your dentist did some work on you. Your dentist sounds incompetent, find yourself a reliable dentist with years of experience and share your story of pain with him/her.
Reply:well the solution for this pain is root canal treatment without a doubt.. evidentially u had deep caries and when your dentist did the cavity preparation he was close to the nerve tissue in the tooth which is the pulp... a perforation might of happened and that an inflammation in your pulp.. so this needs root canal. this happens alot in deep caries because the cavity is very close to the pulp... and your being treated the right way dont worry about that... and for your pain take pain relievers like ibuprofen or smthing...
Reply:A agree with the doctor on this forum. Being that there is three teeth involved a dentist can't and probably won't be able to see this on a x-ray. Using all the different testing like percussion using ice, biting down on the tooth . These are all diagnostic tools that a Dentist has to test the tooth. Teeth have a mind of there own and sometime just working on them can cause them to react this way.. And some times all of a sudden you will be able to tell which tooth it is. Hopefully it will calm down. Your aren't being treated badly. Even clench and grinding can upset a tooth. Trust in your Dentist he will find the problem.