I went to the dentist today with toothache in a tooth that I got a pretty big filling in about 9 months ago. Until the weekend, I hadn't had any problems after getting the filling, but it started to hurt on Friday and got progressively worse. I went to the dentist today, he took out the filling and did a little bit more drilling, then put some kind of medicated filling in the tooth.
I have to go back next week to see whether I need a root canal in it or if I can just get a filling in it again. Why would I need a root canal in it and why do I have to wait for a week before he will know if I do or not?
2007-06-12 06:44:18 · 11 answers · asked by Jen 5 in Health ➔ Dental
HELLO JEN,
YOUR DENTIST IS THE BEST ONE TO DETERMINE IF YOU NEED A ROOT CANAL OR NOT.
WHEN AN OLD FILLING IS REMOVED OFTEN TIMES THERE IS SECONDARY DECAY UNDER THAT FILLING. THE DRILLING THAT WAS DONE WAS TO ALSO MAKE EVERYTHING CLEAN IN THE TOOTH.
IF THE DRILLING WAS CLOSE TO THE NERVE A ROOT CANAL MAY, BE INEVITABLE.
THE REASON FOR WAITING IS TO SEE IF THE TOOTH WILL CALM DOWN AND A ROOT CANAL CAN BE AVOIDED. IF YOU STILL HAVE PAIN A ROOT CANAL WILL HAVE TO BE DONE.
2007-06-12 12:27:59 · answer #1 · answered by Dr. Albert, DDS, (USA) 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He has placed a sedative filling in the tooth to try to soothe the pulp. These types of filling are normally left for at least a month to see if the tooth will settle down or not, before a permanent restoration is placed again. Usually an oral antibiotic is prescribed as well.
His reasoning for waiting one week is likely due to a possible abscess on the x ray which would make him want to take another one next week for a comparison, just to see if there is any change. If the tooth doesn't settle down, you will definitely need a root canal. Hopefully the tooth will settle down. If he doesn't recommend waiting a month before placing a permanent restoration, I would ask him to wait a little while. There is no sense in adding more stimulation to an already traumatized tooth right now by drilling the sedative filling out.
Sometimes time heals the tooth, and sometimes it doesn't. This is not to say that the tooth will be fine forever, it may do well for a month or two or even a year, and then flare up again. Although I've seen some that have lasted without ever needing a root canal therapy. It's just hard to guess at these. Hopefully your tooth will heal and just need another filling placed at a later date. Hope I've been of some help and good luck!
2007-06-12 14:18:49 · answer #2 · answered by HeatherS 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I had the same thing. He did a filling and told me to wait and see how it felt. Because it was bloody agony a few hours later, the dentist said I needed a root canal. If your tooth is fine after the filling, problem solved. If it hurts, you will need root canal as a filling is not adequate.
Good luck - I hope you get away with just a filling.
2007-06-12 17:44:23 · answer #3 · answered by alicecake23 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you might have to wait a week to see if it stops hurting..some dentists put a medicated filling in(IRM) to see if the pain stops that they might redo the filling...you may need a root canal because the pain wont stop and the nerve in your tooth is infected or it is dying,infected could be causing you the pain...if you do need a root canal ..im,sorry:( but it isnt that bad i had 3 of them and im a dental assistant..remember to ask for more novicaine if you feel anything!!and if you are really worried about the root canal ask for sweet air..it will help relax you..some people use it before the get the novicaine so it helps them relax...im sorry...i hope you feel better...
2007-06-12 13:59:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I hope you won't need a root canal! But, if you do, here's some information (continued in the link below) that will help. It contains pictures, risks, benefits, even questions to ask the doctor!
Root canal treatments are procedures designed to save teeth damaged by injury and/or severe tooth decay (cavities). The procedure may also be called root canal therapy or endodontic treatment. “Endo” means inside and “odont” means tooth in Greek. The procedure involves the removal of pulp, the soft tissue inside the tooth.
One or more root canals are found inside every tooth. Each canal contains pulp, often referred to as the nerve center of the tooth. Pulp actually consists of nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue. When that pulp is damaged by deep cavities or a fractured or cracked tooth, it can cause severe pain (toothache) and a root canal treatment may be needed
More......... http://oral.health.ivillage.com/dentalrestorations/rootcanaltreatment.cfm
2007-06-12 13:55:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
u can imagine tooth as a three layers .........innermost is the sensitive part, middle is a soft part and outer what we see is the hardest. witha tooth decay bacteria eat out the two layers exposing the sensitive inner part. a dentist tries to keep ur tooth alive so root canal is last option .......... they remove the inner soft part. if a decay is deep, they remove the decay and hope tht the middle soft part can pevent irritants from entering the sensitive layer. if not they try to place a substance that can soothe the sensitive part while allowing the soft part to grow more firm else they have to go for root canal. makes sense?
2007-06-12 19:44:33 · answer #6 · answered by Dentist M 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You probably had an abscess in the tooth and your dentist is waiting for it to clear before he decides what to do next. He wouldn't have been able to see all the tooth because of the abscess pus.
2007-06-12 13:53:47 · answer #7 · answered by olliedog 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
When your dentist tells you you need one. Trust him, he's a professional.
2007-06-12 13:53:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Isn't this something you should leave up to your dentist to decide?
2007-06-12 13:52:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Well, you could do it yourself with an ice skate and a rock. If you don't trust your dentist, get a new one.
2007-06-12 13:54:00 · answer #10 · answered by jmcdhome 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋