tooth sensitivity Archives - Bayou Dental Group

Why Is My Tooth Still Sensitive Months After Getting a White Filling?

Posted on June 5, 2025 by AllSmiles.

Last November, my dentist filled a top left molar tooth with a composite filling. Since that time, my tooth has been sensitive to anything cold that I eat or drink. My dentist said the tooth had a deep cavity, so she put a temporary crown on it. My tooth is still sensitive, so my dentist will order a final crown when I approve. I’m saving for the crown. However, I’m beginning to wonder if I should ask another dentist to try a new filling first. Why would I need a crown anyway? Thanks. Konnor

Konnor,

We are unsure whether your dentist performed a procedure on your tooth before placing a temporary crown. However, lingering sensitivity in a composite or amalgam (“silver”) filling usually means bacteria have reached the pulp of the tooth. If your body’s defenses don’t eliminate the bacteria, you will need root canal treatment.

A diagram with seven stages of root canal treatment from accessing the tooth to protecting it with a crown

Root canal therapy treats an infected tooth

Did your dentist place a temporary crown on the tooth as a solution to sensitivity? Did an X-ray show that your tooth was cracked? Did your dentist perform root canal treatment? If your dentist performed root canal treatment, it’s too late for a new filling.

Your dentist prepared your tooth for a dental crown, which required shaving it to ensure a proper fit. When a tooth is already sensitive, the preparation can increase its sensitivity. Before asking a dentist to replace a filling, ask them to examine your X-ray to see if the tooth is infected or damaged.

David Finley, DDS, a Monroe, Louisiana, accredited cosmetic dentist and Academy of General Dentistry Fellow, sponsors this post. Read about how Dr. Finley and his team strive to provide some of the best dental care in Monroe.

Can I Trust My Dentist’s Quick Diagnosis?

Posted on November 19, 2024 by AllSmiles.

My lower left second molar has a large filling that’s super sensitive to heat, cold, and even air. I told my dentist about it, and she quickly blew air on a few spots and slathered on some desensitizing stuff. Without looking at it properly, she suggested pulling the nerve if it didn’t stop hurting. I’m baffled – how can she diagnose something that quickly?

I’m wearing braces, and I wonder if that could be causing the sensitivity. Or maybe there’s a hole or weak spot in the filling itself.

My dentist seems really rushed and impersonal. She doesn’t explain what she’s doing or ask if I have questions. It’s frustrating. – Thank you. Dawn from NU

Dawn,

If your tooth is sensitive to air, it probably means there’s an exposed part of the tooth. A desensitizing agent can often reduce sensitivity.

If the pain from the air is quick and goes away fast, it might just be a temporary nerve issue. However, if the pain persists, the nerve may be damaged beyond repair, and you might need a root canal.

Dentists can also check for sensitivity with heat, hold, or electrical impulses.

While your braces could make your tooth sensitive, it’s more likely the filling. If the filling does not fit right or leaks, that can cause sensitivity.

If you’re worried about your dentist’s demeanor, talk to her. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for more info. A good dentist builds trust and talks openly with their patients. You might want a second opinion if she doesn’t listen to your concerns.

The Monroe, Louisiana, dentists at Bayou Dental Group sponsor this post. Please read how Dr. Finley and his team strive to offer some of the best dental care in Monroe.

Why Is My Tooth Extraction Site Sensitive to Heat?

Posted on August 31, 2024 by AllSmiles.

I had a tooth removed almost two weeks ago. The extraction site looks healthy, but it is sensitive to heat. Should I be concerned? – Thanks. Estacia from IL

Etacia,

It’s common to experience discomfort or sensitivity after a tooth extraction, especially a wisdom tooth. Physical exertion can increase sensitivity. However, sensitivity to heat is a different matter that may need a dentist’s attention.

Why Is a Tooth Extraction Site Sensitive to Heat?

If a tooth extraction site feels sensitive to heat, an adjacent tooth may be causing your symptoms. Sometimes, patients report sensitivity to cold or air after an extraction, but in many instances, the adjacent tooth causes discomfort. The extraction process may have exposed the root of the neighboring tooth, leading to increased sensitivity.

While mild sensitivity to cold is generally not a concern, sensitivity to heat may be a symptom of potential problems. When a tooth becomes irritated, it may initially respond to cold stimuli. If the irritation persists and the pulp tissue within the tooth dies, heat sensitivity may develop. Gases release and expand within the tooth and cause pain when you eat or drink anything hot.

We recommend scheduling a follow-up appointment with your dentist to assess the sensitivity and determine the cause. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent further complications.

Why Does My New Tooth Filling Hurt When I Chew?

Posted on October 12, 2023 by AllSmiles.

Why does my new tooth filling hurt when I chew? My dentist replaced an old silver filling in my top left first molar two weeks ago. The tooth is sensitive to cold and has hurt since I got the filling. I take ibuprofen. Is this normal sensitivity, or will I need the filling replaced? I have a new dentist, so I would like another opinion before I call the office. I don’t know what to expect. I was supposed to get in-office whitening in two weeks, and now this. It’s a little frustrating. Thanks. Ken from Memphis, TN

Ken,

We understand your concerns and frustration. Although you would need an X-ray and an exam to get an accurate diagnosis, we will provide general information on types of discomfort and what can cause it.

Why Does a New Tooth Filling Hurt When You Chew?

When a new tooth filling hurts when you chew, the cause may be irritation from removing decay from a deep cavity, a change in your bite, or a tooth infection. Details for each scenario include the following:

Mild sensitivity to cold foods and drinks. Removing decay from a large or deep cavity can irritate the tooth pulp. The sensitivity is more frequent with amalgam (silver) filling but can occur with composite filling. The sensitivity will decrease gradually.
Moderate pain when you chew. The filling might have changed your bite if the pain is moderate without other symptoms. Or the ligament that connects your tooth and jawbone may be irritated. In either case, the pain will subside. However, if you feel a sharp pain when chewing without other symptoms, faulty bonding may cause your symptoms. You can get relief with a new filling.
Evening moderate pain. While removing deep decay, some bacteria can be pushed into porous dentin (the layer beneath the enamel). When that happens, the bacteria will infect the tooth pulp. Your body may fight the bacteria, and the tooth can improve. Otherwise, you may need root canal treatment to remove the infection. Your dentist may refer you to an endodontist (root canal specialist) to determine whether you have an infection.

When you call the dental office, request an exam. An in-person exam and X-ray can lead to faster diagnosis. If your dentist cannot resolve your discomfort, you can ask for a referral to a root canal specialist. It’s best to wait until a dentist or specialist identifies and treats the cause of the sensitivity before you begin in-office teeth whitening treatments. Teeth whitening treatments can cause sensitivity, so you wouldn’t want to increase your symptoms.

David Finley, DDS, a Metairie, Louisiana, accredited cosmetic dentist and Academy of General Dentistry Fellow, sponsors this post. Read about what Dr. Finley, Dr. Thompson, and Dr. Coughran do to provide some of the best dental care in Monroe.

Why is my crowned tooth sensitive to heat?

Posted on March 25, 2021 by AllSmiles.

Two of my crowns are more than 20 years old. Last week, I visited my dentist to get up my first box of Invisalign aligners and get a dental cleaning. Today, I felt sudden intense pain in an upper left crown, and the pain gets worse when I drink coffee. My dental office is closed until the beginning of April. Is Invisalign causing pain and sensitivity as my teeth shift? Do I need to see another dentist, or can it wait until April? Thank you. Asa from TN

Asa,

The symptoms you describe mean that your tooth pulp is dying. You will need root canal treatment to remove the infection and save your tooth.

Tooth pain and sensitivity – Tooth sensitivity that comes and goes does not necessarily mean the tooth is dying. But sudden intense pain that arises on its own indicates the tooth is dying. And when warm or hot temperature changes increase the pain, the indications are strong.
Infected tooth pulp – When infected pulp calls the body’s defenses to fight the infection, the pulp tissue begins to swell. But it is confined within your tooth, chokes, and dies. As the tooth dies, it can give off gasses that increase pressure and pain inside the tooth. Cold temperatures contract the gasses and can provide relief.

Photo of an upper aligner for Invisalign, which is offered by Monroe, LA dentist Dr. David Finley.

See a dentist if you have sudden intense pain. It is unlikely that Invisalign is the cause.

Although pressure on the tooth from Invisalign movement can irritate an infected tooth, Invisalign is not the cause of your tooth pain. Your tooth infection was probably already brimming, and the dental cleaning may have aggravated it further.

Root Canal for a Crowned Tooth

Although a dentist can make a small opening in the crown and perform root canal treatment through it, removing the crown gives a better view of the tooth’s condition. And your crown is more than 20 years old, so replacing it and the other old crown can prevent future issues.

Causes of Tooth Pain Beneath an Old Crown

Trapped decay beneath a crown can lead to an infection. If the margin between your gums and the crown is leaking, bacterial can seep in and promote decay. Another culprit might be exposed tooth roots that are irritated.

Can Your Tooth Pain Wait?

An infection will continue to spread until a dentist treats it. The pain and sensitivity you are experiencing are signals to see a dentist right away. Ask friends or family members for a recommendation. Or search online for an experienced dentist with positive patient reviews. You can wear a temporary crown and wait until your dentist returns to receive your new crowns.

David Finley, DDS, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Monroe, LA, sponsors this post.

I can’t afford to have my wisdom tooth removed

Posted on September 27, 2020 by AllSmiles.

Last summer, my bottom right wisdom tooth cracked. A corner came off when it broke, and since that time, small pieces have been falling off. Now, only the back wall of the tooth remains. I can see the tooth pulp decreasing, and my tooth is extremely sensitive. I regret not listening to my pediatric dentist when I was 17 because she told me to get the teeth extracted. She said they were growing in crooked and would become painful if I didn’t do something about it. Of course, I never had the teeth extracted. Will this wisdom tooth fall out, or will I need a dentist to remove it? I’ve only been working part time since COVID, so my funds are limited. Thanks. Reuben from MS

Reuben,

Although your decaying wisdom tooth will eventually fall out, it’s best to have a dentist extract it. An infection can get into your jawbone and cause an abscess. You can avoid discomfort and pain by asking for an extraction.

Sensitivity in a Dying Tooth

You mentioned that your tooth pulp is disappearing. We aren’t sure what you mean by that, but perhaps your tooth pulp was exposed, became infected, and died. When tooth pulp is dead, you can still feel sensitivity when biting. But the tooth pulp is alive if you feel sensitive to cold or air. Although root canal treatment might save a tooth, a dentist must examine your tooth to see its condition.

Swelling

If you don’t have any swelling around your jaw, tooth extraction isn’t an emergency. But if you see or feel swelling, see a dentist right away. Lower wisdom teeth that have an infection are easier to access, numb, and extract.

What If You Can’t Afford to Have a Wisdom Tooth Removed?

If you can’t afford to have a wisdom tooth extracted, consider these options:

You might be able to find a free dental clinic that takes emergency appointments for people who don’t have dental insurance or who have little money. Search online for a free dental clinic near you.
Some dental offices offer payment plans or a dental savings plan that offers discounted fees
You might qualify for CareCredit financing and make monthly payments to pay for care.

For our readers: Our comments apply to wisdom teeth. A dentist will handle the situation differently if you’re having problems with a non-wisdom tooth. Missing teeth will cause other teeth to drift and affect your bite.

David Finley, DDS, a Monroe, LA dentist, sponsors this post. Please read our financial policies on our website.

Reasons a Tooth Is Sensitive to Heat and What to Expect at the Dentist

Posted on June 16, 2020 by AllSmiles.

In February, my dentist placed a small filling in tooth #15 because he thought I complained about sensitivity to cold in the tooth. The tooth was fine until April. While eating ice cream, I noticed that the tooth was sensitive to sweet and cold. But then I had morning coffee, and that caused intense pain. I returned to my dentist, and he wants to refer me to an endodontist for a root canal. I made the appointment, but I wonder if it’s necessary. Why can’t my dentist try a different type of filling? – Amaeus from Maine

Amaeus,

A tooth that is sensitive to heat or cold needs root canal treatment. Keep the appointment with the endodontist, or root canal specialist.

Reasons a Tooth Is Sensitive to Heat

Trauma to a tooth or deep decay can trigger intense pain when the tooth is in contact with heat or cold. The pulp of the tooth is damaged or infected, and the endodontist will remove it.

Depending on the date of your appointment with the specialist, schedule an appointment with your dentist right away. Ask him to protect the tooth with a strong temporary crown, or your dentist might recommend a same-day crown. Otherwise, the tooth can split, and you’ll lose it. Your dentist might reduce the tooth to prevent you from biting down on it and breaking if beyond repair.

An endodontist, or a dentist with advanced training in root canal therapy, will perform a quick, painless procedure to save your tooth. Don’t delay treatment. The damage can get worse over time and be more costly and time-consuming to correct.

What to Expect

Your endodontist or dentist will numb the area around your tooth.
The dentist or orthodontist will clean and disinfect your tooth and fill it with a dental filler material.
You’ll need another crown to protect the tooth. Meanwhile, you can wear a temporary crown. Your tooth will be numb for two to four hours.

If root canal treatment isn’t successful, your dentist will explain your options for replacing the tooth, including a dental implant.

This post is sponsored by Monroe, LA dentist Dr. David Finley—an accredited fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

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