In early March, I received two white fillings – one on a top left molar and the other on a bottom left molar. Both fillings felt okay at first. But about three weeks later, I began to feel pressure shocks whenever I bite down on that side of my mouth. I returned to my dentist, and he shaved some of the filling.
The pain only improved a little, so I had another appointment with my dentist last week. He removed one of the fillings because he thought there might be a crack in my tooth. My dentist said the decay was deep, and there was a small crack in my tooth, but he would fill it with composite. If the tooth doesn’t improve, he will recommend root canal treatment.
I still get shocks in the tooth when I mistakenly chew on the left side of my mouth. Sometimes the tooth hurts if I touch it with my tongue. Does this tooth need to be extracted, or will a root canal help? I’m scheduled to get my teeth whitened next month, but I think that I should wait until my dentist resolves my tooth pain. – Thanks. Benjamin, Witchita, KS
Benjamin,
Dr. Perry would need to examine and x-ray your tooth for an accurate diagnosis. We noticed your location, and an examination in our office isn’t practical. Based on your description, your tooth might be cracked, infected, or both. A tooth that is pain free until weeks after the filling is often cracked or infected. It is good that your dentist placed a white composite filling because amalgam can irritate and weaken the tooth.
Concerns About Your Cracked Tooth
- Treatment for a cracked tooth – If your dentist saw a crack in your tooth, he should have protected it with a dental crown, not a filling. Without a crown, the crack will spread, and your tooth will eventually break.
- Reasons to see a specialist – When your dentist doesn’t have advanced training and experience in root canal treatment, he or she might lack the skill, training, and tools needed for successful treatment. If your tooth pain persists, we recommend that you visit an endodontist, or root canal specialist. Endodontists routinely perform root canal treatments. And they have advanced training and specialized tools—that most general or family dentists don’t have—to minimize the risk of root canal failure and the need for extracting the tooth.
- Extract only when necessary – Whenever possible, it’s best to save the tooth if it doesn’t compromise your oral tooth. If your dentist extracts the tooth without replacing it with a dental bridge or an implant, your body will resorb the bone in the space. And other teeth in the vicinity will start to shift.
- Effects of teeth bleaching gel – Your tooth is already sensitive and irritated. Bleaching gel and the teeth whitening process will increase your symptoms.
Request a Referral or Get a Second Opinion
Ask your dentist for a referral to an endodontist. If he won’t refer you, schedule an appointment with another general dentist for a second opinion. Take your recent x-ray and dental records with you. A dentist with experience in root canal treatment can give you an accurate diagnosis, explain your treatment options, and refer you to a specialist if needed.
Delay Your Teeth Whitening Appointment
Conscientious dentists offer teeth whitening to patients whose teeth and gums are healthy. You can prevent further irritation to your teeth by delaying teeth whitening treatment until the issue with your tooth is resolved. Although dentists use a special gel to reduce sensitivity during bleaching, if a tooth is already sensitive from damage, it’s best to wait.
Ryan Perry, DDS, of Baton Rouge sponsors this post.
