Filling done incorrectly? I’m confused!

[4432paula]

Hi everyone,

17 fillings and 3 extractions later and my treatment plan is done! I can’t believe I’ve done it! If anyone saw my posts before you will know how scared I was. I cried at every appointment and had a panic attack on the final one at the needle. Before and after pics below!

There is a problem though. One of the molars that was filled two weeks ago has been sensitive when I brush close to the gum line. Doesn’t hurt when I floss or eat. It’s also bleeding a bit when I brush. Spoke to the dentist when I went in last week for my final appointment and he said that there’s a thin line on it or something that needs more filling. I didn’t really understand what he meant. He put some kind of varnish on it which he said might help but said to call in a week if it doesn’t.

So it didn’t help and I’ve called back today. I had the option of waiting until he’s back from holiday on 3rd October, or be seen by a different dentist. I honestly don’t think I can cope with seeing someone else so I’m waiting the 4 weeks.

Do any dentists on here know what he’s talking about and if I’m likely to do damage by waiting? I’m really panicky about it. Thanks

 

[Gordon]

Bit hard to know for sure from your description, but if it's what I think it is, then no harm in waiting for a few weeks
Try massaging some sensitive tooth toothpaste into the sensitive area with a finger in the meantime, that might help a bit.

 

[4432paula]

@Gordon thank you! A dentist on Facebook group I’m on thinks it’s a bit of exposed dentine. I’m not sure what that means but she said the same as you - that it’s not urgent, just annoying for me.

I’m just confused because I thought dentine would be on the tooth but it’s a tiny bit of my gum that seems sore when I press it. It definitely feels like a nerve though. I’m also not sure why that would bleed?

 

[Gordon]

It's a long story, the crown of your tooth is a shell of enamel with dentine underneath it. The root part is dentine with a shell of cementum over it. Usually the 2 shells meet in a butt joint around about the gum margin. Dentine has little tubes running through it which have little sensory organs in them. Sadly they're pretty dumb and only carry pain receptors, so anything that sets them off sends a "pain" signal to your brain.
Occasionally there is a little gap between the cementum and enamel, this leaves dentine exposed and causes the little twinges you feel. Sensitive toothpaste works by bunging up the dentine tubes.

The bleeding is probably down to the gum being a bit inflamed in the area. You may be avoiding brushing it due to the sensitivity or else the filling might be a little bit high and creating a small plaque trap. Either way it's nothing to worry about and can wait for a while to get fixed.

 

[4432paula]

@Gordon thanks! I will stop worrying now and stop asking loads of questions! Just one more though - do you think this is something that I would usually be charged for to fix? As I paid £280 for the original filling already.

 

[Gordon]

No, I wouldn't think about charging to fix this.