Expert: Mark Bornfeld DDS - 10/5/2008

Question
Hello.  I recently had a large filling replaced on the bottom right side of my mouth and had a small cavity filled on the top right side of my mouth.  Neither of these teeth hurt prior to the procedure but now, 1 1/2 weeks later and two bite adjustments later the right side of my mouth is killing me!!!  I have shocking pain when i eat on the right side of my mouth in the tooth on the top next to the tooth that was filled and all of the teeth on the top are throbbing on the right and a few of the teeth on the bottom are hurting a little but still my dentist is unable to help me with this and I am become very overwhelmed with the situation.  I have had several fillings in my life and have never had any pain afterwards.  The only thing that he did that was different was a "pressure infiltration" on the top d/t difficulty getting my mouth adequately numb for the procedure.  Can you give me any idea of what might be going on?  I would appreciate any help you might have to offer.  Thanks.

Answer
Dear Kara,

Despite the fact that the pain seems to be originating from a different tooth, logic suggests that the source of the pain is the tooth/teeth that were treated, since the onset of the symptoms coincided with the fillings. (It is highly unlikely that the anesthetic injection could provoke this type of pain.)

The overwhelmingly most common reason for the sequence of events you describe is pulpal injury to the teeth. This is especially true if the fillings that were placed were of the tooth-colored resin variety rather than the more conventional silver amalgam; resin has a higher propensity to injur the pulp.

If your dentist is unable to diagnose the nature of your problem, you should request a referral to an endodontist (root canal specialist).

Good luck!

Mark Bornfeld DDS
www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY