tooth pain

[hollywoodpink]

I went to the dentist for a regular cleaning- after taking an x-ray, I was told that an old filling of mine needed to be removed and replaced.  He replaced it with the white filling.  After I left I could not put any pressure on that tooth- i went back and he filed down the filling- still hurt.   I went back and he took half of the filling out and said he saw a crack- he replaced half of the filling that he took out.  Left and the tooth still could not take any pressure.  I went back last week and he put a temporary crown on my tooth- until the real one comes in.  I still can not put any pressure on that tooth-  I have not been able to eat on the left side of my mouth since September.  If I put any pressure on that tooth- I have a strong shooting pain.  I am not sure what to do next..

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

There may be a fracture in the tooth.  It may need a root canal.  Also, if there's a fracture, there may be no way to know if a root canal will solve the problem either.  The dentist should either examine the tooth or refer you to a root canal specialist.