Top four incisors still hurt months after fillings

[Dahlia]

Hey everyone. I was looking on google about my problem, and hope that someone reading this may be able to help me.

Lets start at the beginning. Back in October, (4 months ago) I went in to see a dentist. My tooth to the left of my front two teeth had a cavity between it. My front two teeth had a cavity between them as well. My tooth to the right of my front teeth had an old filling that the dentist said needed to be replaced.

I don't have dental insurance and I'm on a fixed income, so needless to say, this procedure was fairly expensive. Not that it matters, but it was also my first trip back to the dentist in quite a few years.

Anyway, I got all the fillings done at the same time; that was 4 months ago. The tooth to the left of my front teeth, and my left front tooth are just fine. No pain at all. My right front tooth and the tooth to the right of that however, are not fine and have not been fine since the moment I left the dentist's office.

Not only do I have SEVERE sensitivity to anything remotely chilly (including air breathed through my mouth) but I have a constant pain, almost a raw feeling and lots of pressure in these two teeth that are NOT sensitivity related. It hasn't gotten any better with time, and I honestly don't have the money, nor do I really want to go back to that particular dentist to have it looked over again.

The first thing I noticed upon leaving the dentist's office was that the tooth to the right of my front teeth was shaved on the side. Like, it was a whole lot smaller in width than it was before I came in. I did not agree to him making it that small, but figured, oh well, he knew best.

The pain isn't QUITE to the unbearable point, but it's starting to tread down that road of too uncomfortable. I don't feel that my bite was adjusted wrong as I don't feel any more or less pain when I bite down, it just really hurts like it still has the cavity in it.

My question is: Could the dentist I saw have possible filled the tooth incorrectly? Or not used the correct bonding? I don't know much about dentistry, but I know that aside from SOME sensitivity, you shouldn't leave the dentist's office and still four months later be in more pain than when you entered.

Like I said, I have no dental insurance and I'm on a fixed income, so making incessant appointments is not a possibility for me. Not only that, but with the pain I feel in my teeth, I'm more than nervous to see the same dentist again.

Any information, comments or theories would be of great help to me.

Thanks

 

[David]

Hi Dahlia, sorry to hear you've been having problems for 4 months from this tooth. The pain you are experiencing would indicate to me that you had a large filling placed (impossible to know without examining it though). When dentists place large fillings once of a few thing can happen. 1. Nothing - no problems from filling 2. Sensitivity which last a few seconds on hot/cold things - this will normally just settle down over time. 3. Dull ache - which seems to be what you are experiencing. When this happens it indicates that the nerve in the tooth has been irritated and will not settle down and heal. If this is the case and if the pain is constant then I would normally say that the tooth needs to have some root canal therapy. It is impossible to diagnose this for definite without seeing you and your teeth. It would be best to phone the dentist you saw (if you happy to go back and see him/her) and get their opinion. The dentist can then prepare themselves for why you are coming in if you do go back and see them. Hope that helps.