Aa
it's a chain of pain...
5 years ago I had a filling done that I found out only recently that it was too deep for me (it was touching my pulp chambers). Ever since that filling I've had sensitive teeth only in that area, and I've never had sensitive teeth before that. The sensitivity recently got so bad and painful that my whole jaw was hurting on that side, and I had my first root canal even though I am only in my twenties. This took care of the pain, but caused me to have to chew only on the left side for a while before and after the root canal. Now, as a result, I am starting to feel discomfort on the bottom left side, probably from the added stress of only chewing on that side. I've localized the pain to either the first or second molar in the back, on the outside, and bottom near the gums, and there is an old filling there too. I reallllly hope I dont need another root canal! Is it possible this is a gum issue instead?? There is no sensitivity to hot or cold there, just painfulness while chewing. I'm hungry all the time because now with issues on both sides, I can hardly eat. Please help!
I will give you the same advice I just give in general to find a good dentist. Dentistry is less about the actual work (which if trained correctly is easy) and more about the doctor-patient relationship. Things to look for:
1) Most important - Someone who instills a sense of trust with you. If you feel unease about a dentist, you should find another.
2) Someone who answers all your questions - If they seem to busy to answer your questions, chances are they may miss something important about you. A good dentist relationship involves training you to need us less. (if they dont have enough time for questions, will they have enough time to do good work?).
3) Options! Everything in dentistry has options. If the dentist only gives you one choice if you ask for more, leave.
4) Referrals - a happy patient will tell others about his dentist usually. Find someone who has a dentist they just love, and go there.
5) This is going to be a generalization, but find a younger dentist. Techniques change, and new dentists are taught much more than they were 30 years ago. A newer dentist is also likely to have a better lab, better diagnostic equipment, and be more up to date on the newest techniques.
(some older dentist do keep up to date and go to tons of CE courses, but the majority don't)
6) Finally, talk to the staff! If the staff is happy, the patients are usually happy. The staff is around the dentist all day long, they will know by far more about him than almost anyone else.
If you are in Texas I can recommend someone, however I know very few outside the state. Hope this helps.
1) Most important - Someone who instills a sense of trust with you. If you feel unease about a dentist, you should find another.
2) Someone who answers all your questions - If they seem to busy to answer your questions, chances are they may miss something important about you. A good dentist relationship involves training you to need us less. (if they dont have enough time for questions, will they have enough time to do good work?).
3) Options! Everything in dentistry has options. If the dentist only gives you one choice if you ask for more, leave.
4) Referrals - a happy patient will tell others about his dentist usually. Find someone who has a dentist they just love, and go there.
5) This is going to be a generalization, but find a younger dentist. Techniques change, and new dentists are taught much more than they were 30 years ago. A newer dentist is also likely to have a better lab, better diagnostic equipment, and be more up to date on the newest techniques.
(some older dentist do keep up to date and go to tons of CE courses, but the majority don't)
6) Finally, talk to the staff! If the staff is happy, the patients are usually happy. The staff is around the dentist all day long, they will know by far more about him than almost anyone else.
If you are in Texas I can recommend someone, however I know very few outside the state. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the advice-- I did not know the bone under the teeth could bruise that way! And I think that you are correct because today I tried chewing on the side with the root canal to see if I could, and as long as I'm not munching on hard nuts or candy, I found that it was fine. The pain on my other side subsided, and I'm amazed at how quickly it's getting better. I will still ask about my bite though when I go in for the crown.
BTW any advice on what to consider in finding a dentist who will do a good crown? I found out the one I was going to go to did a crown for someone I know, and it fell off a few weeks after so I want to look for a different dentist that uses more updated methods...
BTW any advice on what to consider in finding a dentist who will do a good crown? I found out the one I was going to go to did a crown for someone I know, and it fell off a few weeks after so I want to look for a different dentist that uses more updated methods...
You will not need another root canal, chances are you are just hitting on those teeth harder, causing bone bruising. You should find a dentist capable of checking your bite and adjusting your occlusion (simple procedure). This will balance your bite and allow your bone to heal.
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