Expert: Frederick R. Liewehr DDS, MS, FICD - 2/20/2009

Question
I was having tooth pain with cold and sweet; it felt like the cold/sweet was shooting directly up the middle of my tooth and hit the nerve where I could literally hear a "pop/crack." I went to the dentist and had that tooth redone with a cavity. They took out the amalgam filling and put in a new, resin filling. I waited one week and the sharp pop/crack pain to the nerve was still present. So, I went back to the dentist and they told me to just wait a week, take Ibuprofen and Sensodyne
I've now been loaded up on Ibuprofen and Sensodyne for an additional 7 days and the sharp pain to the nerve is still occuring with cold/sweet.
The dentist said they could put a 2nd filling overtop the tooth and if that didn't work, it would have to be a root canal.

Before I go and spend another obscene amount of money on a 2nd filling, I want advice! Do I take the chance and spend the money to get a 2nd filling, or just go straight for the root canal? They won't even credit my account if I HAVE to have a root canal. So, if I do have to get the root canal after 2 fillings, they won't take into account the money i've already spent of the 2 fillings.


Answer
Sounds like you need another dentist. There are a variety of reasons why you could be experiencing what you are, but I can't tell you what your problem is without seeing you. However, it doesn't sound like your dentist has diagnosed your problem, and he is just trying various things at your expense. It also sounds like he sold you on a "new resin filling" as being somehow superior to an amalgam, which it is not. We see far more problems with resins than we ever did with amalgam. If the restoration is done properly, there is absolutely no reason to either redo it or to put something (presumably a crown) over it. You need to solve the pain problem first. You may have a cracked tooth (you didn't tell me if it hurts to biting) or just a pulpitis. Either would require endodontic therapy. Bottom line - find a good endodontist and get your problem diagnosed before you spend any more money.