Too painful to chew since filling

[Sannia]

I have had many fillings in the past and never had a problem. However a month ago I had a mercury filling removed in an upper right hand molar and replaced. I also had  filling placed in the tooth next to it. Over the next week I developed a tooth ache in the tooth below that one in the lower right jaw. I was due for more work at the dentist anyway so I went back and she replaced a filling on that tooth which had cracked and did another filling next to that one too. I have not been able to eat on that side of mouth since that day. The pain on one of my lower right molars was excruciating so I went back in and the dentist adjusted the fillings on top and bottom believing they were too high and it was a bite problem. After she did that I was able to chew very softly and slowly on that tooth but after three bites a throb developed in my jaw which was quite debilitating. So i went back again and she adjusted the teeth again. I have been back 3 times for adjustments and still I cannot eat more than two bites without debilitating jaw pain.

What is going on?

[Sannia]

I ended up in increasing pain. No longer was it only painful when chewing but my sensitivity to cold increased so that it ached unbearably even with no stimulus. My entire jaw was cramping in pain and finally after 48 hours of it I went back to my dentist and said I was not coping. Was not at all happy that all she did was give me yet another referral, this time to an endodontist, and practically made me beg for a codeine script that only lasted two days. Naturally the endodontist could not see me for months either but after wailing on the phone to the receptionist they found me an appointment. First I saw the prosthodontist who did a root canal on two teeth and diagnosed irreversible pulpitis (inflammation of the nerve) plausible created because I have 'pulp horns' (tendrils on the nerve that go low into the tooth) that were exposed during the recent fillings.

I felt better immediately, but then that night the tooth in front of one of root canal treated teeth began to throb unbearably, so I saw the endodontist next day and he did a root canal on that teeth, this time the nerve was actually dead and had abscessed. He told me he had never seen anyone need 3 root canals at once before.

so now I have a mouth with 3 half-teeth (thankfully molars so not visible) and temporary fillings, it feels awful. I am on serious antibiotics for the abscess and will consult the endo next week as to what happens next: likely I will need permanent fillings and caps on all three teeth to reinforce their strength.

My question is: would you go back to the dentist that did the original fillings when the problem started. I mean at least now she knows what to look out for and it may not have been her fault but i can't help but be suspicious and I do need filling work on the other side of my mouth.

[Sannia]

Ok. thanks for the advice Scottma.
:)

[scottma]

Prosthodontists generally receive more training in occlusion(bite) than general dentists.

[Sannia]

I now have an appoitment to see a prosthedontist, but not for 2 months!

I am wondering why I am being sent to a prosthedontist, don't they deal with false teeth? What will they do for my bite issue?

[scottma]

Your descriptions suggest occlusal interference was introduced by new restorations.If your dentist can not solve your problem, you may need to see an occlusionist or prosthodontist.