I wonder if you can offer some advice to me. I went to see my dentist for a check up as I hadn’t had one for a year or so. I didn’t have any problems with my teeth I just felt I [...]]]> Dental advice wanted – painful tooth after dental filling

I wonder if you can offer some advice to me. I went to see my dentist for a check up as I hadn’t had one for a year or so. I didn’t have any problems with my teeth I just felt I was due a check up. Upon consultation he suggested I have some x rays done, which I agreed. He said that there seemed to be some gum infection in one of my teeth. I couldn’t see any evidence of this on the X ray but agreed to having the filling re-filled. I asked if I could take the x rays for a second opinion and he would not let me – he said they are confidential.

This was quite a deep filling and he mentioned that I may need a crown later on. He filled the filling and the next day when I was eating I experienced extreme pain when eating due to large amounts of food being deposited in the gap left by the new filling – thus irritating my gums. Also, it had become extremely sensitive (it was not sensitive before). I went back to the dentist the following day, they checked it and said there was nothing wrong, that the gums were inflamed and I need to use pro active sensitive toothpaste – which I did. The next day I experienced further pain, so I went back. The dentist took most of the filling out and refilled it again, this left me numb for hours afterwards. Again, the next day I am left with extreme pain when eating and again large amounts of food are deposited into the gap of the filling causing sensitivity and pain. I went back again today and he said that the filling is fine and follows the contour of the gum, that I have small gaps around the tooth and that I need to leave it for a couple of months to settle down – allowing it to tighten around the tooth. I asked what he suggested about the pain and basically he said I had to put up with it.

Q: am I entitled to see my own dental records and have them checked by another dentist?
Q: any suggestions to releving the pain?
Q: Is my dentist responsible for this, what can I do legally?

Inlays and onlays are lab fabricated fillings. The old filling is removed, an impression is made and then the inlays or onlays are made in the lab. The inlays or onlays are then fitted at a later appointment.

An inlay sits inside the cusps of the tooth (inside the [...]]]> What are Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and onlays are lab fabricated fillings. The old filling is removed, an impression is made and then the inlays or onlays are made in the lab. The inlays or onlays are then fitted at a later appointment.

An inlay sits inside the cusps of the tooth (inside the hollow in the tooth). An onlay sits on the cusps of the tooth (on top of the tooth). Inlays and onlays are made from porcelain, white composites or gold. They can be colour matched to your existing teeth. They are stronger than normal fillings and normally last much longer.