Two weeks after getting composite fillings, one top and one bottom molar, I started feeling pressure shocks in the bottom tooth. I returned to the dentist, and he shaved down some of the fillings. Whatever he did didn’t help the pressure shocks. My dentist said that it sounded like the tooth might be cracked. He removed the filling and said the decay was deep and the tooth had a small crack. My dentist refilled the tooth and said I would need a root canal if it didn’t improve.
I still feel shocks in the tooth when I chew and sometimes when I touch it. Is a root canal the only solution, or should I get the tooth extracted? – Thanks. Bradley from NM
Bradley,
We are unsure whether your tooth is cracked or infected without an exam. Feeling no pain until two weeks after getting composite fillings suggests a crack or infection, which indicates the cavity was deeper than your dentist suspected. An X-ray would reveal the source of the shocks you feel in the tooth.
We are skeptical about your dentist’s ability to resolve the issue. An endodontist (root canal specialist) will give predictable results to prevent further damage and decrease the risks of root canal failure and tooth loss.
Do not ask a dentist to remove the tooth. Without replacing the tooth immediately, other teeth will drift into the space. You would experience several problems, possibly requiring orthodontics and a dental implant.
If your dentist says your tooth is cracked, we wonder why he didn’t recommend a crown. Without a crown, the tooth will break eventually.
We recommend getting a second opinion from an experienced dentist or an endodontist.
David Finley, DDS, a Monroe, Louisiana, dentist and Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, sponsors this post. Read about what Dr. Finley and his team do to provide some of the best dental care in Monroe.
In April, my dentist filled a front tooth with composite. Floss was getting stuck between my teeth, so I told my dentist about it when I had my checkup in October. She smoothed the surface, and the floss did not get stuck anymore. I thought the tooth was a little sensitive, and a few days later, when I was eating, the sensitivity was so intense that it felt like an electric shock. I returned to the dentist for an x-ray, and she told me to take ibuprofen because the tooth looked okay. I waited a month, then stopped taking ibuprofen, and the pain returned. If I return to the dentist, she will probably replace the filling. But the pain makes me wonder if I need a root canal. My dentist seems casual about the issue, so do you recommend a new filling or that I ask for a referral to a specialist? – Thank you. Irena from MS
