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Continued pain in tooth after repeated cavity fillings

Hello,

I went to the dentist about four months ago and I was told that I needed a cavity filling between teeth #'s 19 and 20 I believe.  It was a very small cavity from what the dentist told me.  He filled the cavity, and everything seemed fine for a few weeks.  Then one day I am flossing and as I come up I hit an area in between the teeth that is very sensitive, from then on I felt nothing but pain and discomfort in that area of the filling, I went back to the dentist and he filed down the filling and it didn't help.  I went back again and had it refilled.  It was ok for another few weeks, then the pain once again came back. I went back again and x-rays showed the filling being completely sealed, so he really had no explanation of what was going wrong.  He discovered that there was a small air-pocket within the top-lining of the filling right in between the two teeth.  So he filled this area and said that I should be good to go.  I was still sensitive to cold water on that area afterwards, but it wasn't as painful as it was.  This lasted two more weeks and now its back being very sensitive to cold water again and causing me lots of grief.  He said the only other option would be to refer me to an endodontist about a possible root canal, but I think I would be against such an idea since the cavity itself was nowhere near the pulp of my tooth and was very small.  What could be going on with this tooth??
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, I believe i have a air pocket in the root of my gums was started.
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Avatar universal
if the fracture is in the tooth, a crown may be indicated. if the fracture is in the filling, which is what i meant-- ie perhaps the filling has a crack in it, it may just need to be refilled.
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Avatar universal
If there is a small fracture, which I have also read could be the cause.....what would alternatives do I have to fix this?  Crown?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i'm not sure wht is meant by an "air pocket" but it seems like you did something to the filling when you flossed. perhaps it got caught on an overhang....... it doesn't sound like root canal is needed. I'd ask the dentist to remove and then redo the filling. perhaps there is a small fracture in it somewhere that is not detectable with xrays... this would explain the cold sensitivity, whh by the way is not by itself an indication for root canal treatment.
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Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
For some reason this tooth is hypersensitve. I would suggest placing a temporary filling allowing it to calm down and then replace the filling with another material. I assume that the filling is a composite, which can definitely cause sensitivity. Try amalgam.I would not run to do the rct .
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