Dental Disaster from Routine Filling - TWICE?? - Dental Health Message Board

mikehuangsd · 11-09-2004, 09:41 AM

2 years ago I had a shallow cavity filled on the #18 molar with the white filling. A week later, I began experiencing electric shock-type pain from that tooth. The pain only occurred when pressure was placed directly on the filling.

I went back for x-rays and adjustments, but nothing wrong could ever be found. A ZOE (sedative-type) filling was done, which helped zero. After nearly a year and 14 visits to 3 different dentists, I got a root canal and a crown, which cured the pain about 98%. A "vertically cracked root" was named as the probable culprit.

Last week I had another cavity filled (white filling) on a different molar (#1). And lo-and-behold, now I am experiencing the IDENTICAL electric-shock type pain that I experienced with my #18 molar.

I went in to have it checked, and again they found nothing wrong. I asked if the tooth could possibly have cracked because maybe the filling weakened it. He said that was pretty much impossible since the filling was so superficial. He told me to wait and see if it improves on its own, but I fear the worst is coming, just as before.

The dentist who did the second filling is a different dentist than did the first, and at a different office altogether. How is it possible that I have mystery post-filling pain that no dentist can explain, and that this is happening TWICE?? PLEASE HELP!

Mike

mikehuangsd · 11-09-2004, 10:23 AM

just a note - I have 2 other fillings in my mouth - silver amalgam ones that I received in my teen years. both have given me 15 years or so of service with no complications whatsoever. could I be sensitive somehow to the white resin-type filling material??

sammi2 · 11-10-2004, 07:50 AM

I'm having the same problem. I had a leaky amalgam & decided to have it replaced with a composite because of the mercury issue. Later I read that the plastic fillings conduct electricity and the amalgam doesn't. This puzzles me because I would think the metal fillings would be more of a conductor.
Another theory is that is a bonding failure or contamination of the bond. . The latest technology is using "self etching primers", which is supposed to eliminate this problem. Obviously they did not use this technology on us. I don't know what kind of primer was used on mine. Good luck!

vjx19 · 11-10-2004, 08:10 AM

Composite fills are not as great as people think they are. Silver fills are far more superior, they just don't look good! If while placing your fillings there was any type of contamination from your saliva or any moisture, then chances are that the fill could be leaking. Especially on tooth #1. Nearly impossible to isolate with out a rubber dam. Was a rubber dam used? Also, the life of a composite fill is way shorter than an amalgam. Its not uncommon to get 15-20 yrs out of an amalgam, and you'll be lucky to get 3-5 yrs out of a composite. No matter what kind of primer was used, if it got contaminated, the bond will fail.

db2kp · 11-10-2004, 08:31 AM

Have the composite taken out and don't have them done again. Silver fillings last a really long time. However, if the tooth isn't dry before either filling is placed, you can have problems down the road.
Also, while having this pain, have you been taking ibuprophen? Advil, or Motrin? You have to take that for a while to calm the neuraligia.