Need advice on problem upper Molar.

[Mrebman]

Need help:

I have an upper Molar #15 last molar top left that has bothered me on/off for 10 years. The last time I mentioned it to a dentist 9 years ago (yes I have not seen him in 9 years), he said it was nothing but debris around the gum & cleaned out the gum line. Now 9 years later, it is really hurting at times but at times pretty much goes away. It has a rather large black ugly amalgam filling on the back side of the tooth, could that be leaking? Why does the pain come & go? & how can it go from an 8 to a 1 & then back again. The pain is really wearing me down. what could this be? There is no swelling or bubble on the gum so I don't think it is infected but how would I know?

Could this just be a sensitive tooth, maybe use Orajel desensitizing swab?

Any advice?

 

[Gordon]

It's impossible to diagnose this without seeing your tooth, time to see if your dentist still remembers you?

 

[Mrebman]

OK, I went to the dentist yesterday afternoon & he told me that the tooth & one other tooth has exposed roots. One was due to a neighboring tooth next to it being extracted & the other was due to gingival recession of the gum causing the exposed root. He prescribed using Sensodyne toothpaste on both teeth for a couple of weeks to a month. So far it's not helping much, is there anything else I can do to coat the exposed roots with anything?

Will Sensodyne toothpaste alone solve this? I agree with his diagnosis I guess because when I eat a slimy meal like pasta, the pain goes away & he says the food coats the root. Also, I seem to need a nap to get the pain to go away. I have no pain at night & in the morning but when I eat breakfast & brush the teeth, the pain returns all day & wears me down, I am tempted to just stop brushing but my wife says my breath smells like a polecat.

 

[Gordon]

Sensodyne works best massaged into the tooth after brushing with regular paste. There are more effective treatments that your dentist can use, if you don't get anywhere with the Sensodyne then go back to the dentist.
The new Colgate anti-sensitive stuff is meant to be pretty good, I'd try that instead of Sensodyne, it certainly tastes better!

 

[Mrebman]

Gordon:

Thanks, after I got back from the dentist with my Sensodyne toothpaste, My wife laughed & reminded me that we have been using the Colgate sensitive toothpaste for the last month. I forgot about it as she buys our regular toothpaste.

What should I do continue to use the Sensodyne or go back to the dentist? Is there not a paint-on sealant or bonding agent that could coat these roots? I felt like the dentist kind of gave me the bums rush & sent me on my way, he said all I would need is Sensodyne & that't it. I am confused about what to do, my right tooth is hurting now & I am wondering whether I should go to a New Years eve party tonight or stay home. Now the left tooth back upper is bothering me again but I seem to have a liittle better control over that one by simply not brushing, the tartar seems to cover the exposed root on that tooth fairly well but I know that it is not healthy to not brush a tooth. I need to go in for a complete checkup & get some cavities filled but I would really like to get this exposed root/pain situation under control before I add more discomfort to the mix, I am getting sad & confused & depressed.

 

[Gordon]

Yes there are a number of dentist applied products that are great for treating sensitive roots. Go back and moan at your dentist to fix it for you