Filling put in by hand!!! Now pain :-(

[sudzs]

Just wondering if anyone has come accross this...
I was having a huge amalgam filling replaced, (for the second time in a month due the first being a botched job)

Anyway, the once the old filling was removed, the dentist started to put in the amalgam mix, with his finger!! Not with the usual implement, whatever it's called, but with his finger! The second bit went in the same way, pushed in with his fingeertip!

so I'm wondering how unusual this is, I've never come across it before and I have had lot's and lot's of fillings over the years! And always there was a sort of metal implement with a syringe-like action to shove in the material.

3 months after that I started to get an ache in that tooth that lasted for around 3 - 4 days, not too bad but enought to take some ibuprofen. A few weeks later the same thing but to a lesser degree. Just get the odd niggle now, nothing that needs any pain relief.

So 2 questions....

1. Is filling by hand a bit odd??!!

2. Is it possible that could be anything to do with the thooth ache?


Any input or advice appreciated! (especially as I haven't been around in ages... )

 

[sudzs]

Bump!

Anyone??

Gordon... where are you??!!!!!!!

 

[Gordon]

Brugges mostly, with a few nights in Center Parcs in Nottingham. I needed a holiday, sorry

No, putting filling in with fingers is odd, you need to really force amalgam into the cavity, otherwise there can be an air-void in it, which can cause problems for pilots and divers

I take it that the dentist still used a "plugger" to compress the filling into the cavity after placing the batch of amalgam though? Maybe all his normal carriers were in the steriliser or broken? I've had a part time nurse who managed to leave me with none for a filling appt before!

 

[sudzs]

Thanks for the reply Gordon! Really appreciate it And wow, Bruges, lovely! Hope you enjoyed it!

I'm not really sure if he used a plugger to compress the filling... I couldn't say for sure. But he definately put the first bit of amalgam in by hand and then the second lump without plugging... and then another small bit. (HUGE hole!) Definately no plugging after the first 2 lumps. But can't say if he did or didn't after the last bit went in.

But I know I was the last appointment of the day and was jammed in as I was off on my holidays (Andalucia!) the next morning.
I've been back since about a crown with inflamation around the gum line and asked about the ache in the filled molar, which by the way is now ache-free! Anyway, the two teeth are beside each other so an x-ray showed the crown was ok as was the nerve in the filled molar. I was worried it might be dying but the dentst says it looks fine. Can you tell that from an x-ray?

AND five days later the gum is still inflamed despite the dentist getting a bit of debris out and my vigorous salt water rinsing! Ohgod, and now I'm losing confidence wondering if that filling was done the best way.

What should I do??!!

 

[Gordon]

Try not to worry about it for now, it'd really be going some to mess up a filling that badly just by mis-packing it, more likely the gums are just taking a wee while to settle back down again.

 

[sudzs]

Thank you thank you!

I'll ignore the sore gum (which is around the crown, not the filling) for another few days.... and then see!

A million thanks again Gordon!

 

[Zzzdentist]

In Bruges hey? Gordon, you're not a secret assassin in your off hours, are you?

When I used to place dental amalgams back in the day, for those very very large fillings sometimes I would have to pick up the complete amalgam "ball" after it was triturated, plop it into the area, and pack it a bit with a finger before proceeding to condense it with instruments. As dental amalgam condensers are generally smaller in diameter than the amalgam "ball," just pushing them into place with the instrument can lead to parts of it breaking apart and falling out. So a quick push with a gloved, dry finger isn't a terrible thing as long as the proper instruments are used afterwards.

I doubt the amalgam would stay put for any length of time if it was packed in with just fingers, and your dentist probably doesn't want to redo the filling any time soon so likely he probably did it correctly!

 

[brit]

Hey ZZZdentist
Welcome back - why such a long absence? Could you track down Letsconnect and bring her back too?
Cheers
Brit

 

[Gordon]

Excellent movie, it's a shame it wasn't more widely successful. I haven't "eat the Canadian" by the way

I had been to Brugges before seeing the movie, it's better that way around.

 

[sudzs]

I had been to Brugges before seeing the movie, it's better that way around.

Did you go up that tower?? And did you go up before or after seeing the film?!!

 

[Zzzdentist]

I was tempted to make up some sexually intriguing, mysterious story about Letsconnect's and my absence together , but me being a gentleman and professional, I won't go down that sordid route as she isn't present to defend her honor. Besides, who wants to hear about menage a trois stories, trapeze athletics, and tantric cupcake baking.

Actually to be honest, I didn't know she wasn't around lately. She sure hasn't been visiting my forum. I've just been distracted by a few other things and interests. I hope to drop by a little more often in the future to help out, but I see that Gordon is still manning the helm quite well.

 

[brit]

I won't go down that sordid route as she isn't present to defend her honor. Besides, who wants to hear about menage a trois stories, trapeze athletics, and tantric cupcake baking.

Quite right - she must have her reasons.
Also agree Bruges was a good film but a bit violent for me.

 

[Gordon]

I went up the tower (cue joke from ZZZ!) before seeing the film, the first time I went there. Didn't bother going up this time, but I did go to the chip museum. Seemed the best thing to do, me being Scottish and all.

 

[brit]

Mmm baguette and chips with mayonnaise - French/Belgian cuisine at its best.