Baton Rouge Dentist

I Have Pain with White Fillings

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A couple of weeks ago, I decided to get tooth whitening and my front composite fillings replaced. I thought everything was fine because I didn’t have any pain or sensitivity to cold or hot. But then I noticed one of my front composite fillings started giving me pain in the corner when I was biting food.
I got this filling removed and replaced but I still have pain. Do I need to see a dentist again? What is going on?
– John from Louisiana

Jeremy,
Without a dentist seeing you in person, it’s hard to determine why your tooth is sensitive. However, it’s probably nothing to be concerned about.
When a patient gets white fillings, sometimes they will experience some sensitivities or slight pain. This may be because there was some irritation in the bonding process. Or, it might be that when the final polishing was done on the filling, it irritated the enamel of the tooth. A sensitivity to touch, especially minimal, is usually nothing. In fact, you generally see the pain diminish over time.

This blog brought to you by Baton Rouge family dentist, Dr. Ryan P. Perry.

Problems and discomfort following a white filling

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Last year I had to have a filling put in one of my front teeth. My dentist used that new white filling material, and I’ve had nothing but trouble since. First I had to go back in and have her sand out the filling materials that was causing dental floss to get stuck between my teeth. Then a few months after that I bit into a hot sandwich and almost passed out from the pain. It was unreal! I called my dentist and she said to try and wait it out, and I did, for as I could stand it, but things have slowly but steadily worsened. Now I can’t even stand to bite into the softest foods or drink room temperature liquids. I am on a constant diet of Alieve.

What should I do? I am afraid to go back in to hear her say that I need to have a root canal treatment and then another white filling. I can’t take anymore! Isn’t there another choice besides a white filling? It is one of my front teeth, and I suggested a crown, but she did not seem comfortable with putting one on only one of my front teeth. Any direction you can provide would be great.

Brian in Memphis, TN

Dear Brian,

From what you describe, you are probably going to need a root canal. Pain from the tooth being irritated from the filling should have abated by now, so something more is going on. Pain that gradually improves would be a better sign, but you describe exactly the opposite.

Following the root canal treatment, you may need a porcelain crown (also called a dental crown or a cap) placed over the tooth. If the cavity is not too large, it would still be a good idea to use white composite fillings, but if it is too large, you may need the crown.

If you do have a root canal treatment, you may want to tell the dentist not to leave any gutta percha (root canal filling material) inside the crown of the tooth, but to make sure to trim the material below the level of the tooth attachment. Gutta percha left in the crown of the tooth will cause it to darken over time. If you get a crown, this won’t matter, but if you get another filling, it will.

Post courtesy of Baton Rouge Dentist Dr. Perry.